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STEUBENVILLE -- Some of the magic of Christmas is missing from Historic Fort Steuben.
Mayor Jerry Barilla said one of four oversized Christmas bulbs on display was stolen early Wednesday morning. It's one of four in a set.
"It's a large Christmas bulb that sits on the ground with lights on it," he said. "We have four -- two by the entrance into the Visitor Center and two up at our historical maker. That's where one was taken."
Barilla said the theft was caught on camera.
"On the film it looks like a white car pulled up around 1:15 a.m. and four or five guys jumped out in the parking lot, ran around and took some pictures at the wreath (photo station)," Barilla said. "Then one of them ran over and grabbed the decoration and they took off."
He said the car "came in from the north and left going north."
"I suspect it was high school or college kids at that hour, with how many of them were in the car," he said. "I figure one of them thought it would be cool to grab it, it was just sitting on the ground -- the two by the Visitor Center door are plugged in, the other two were just sitting on the ground as decorations."
Made of resin, the missing bulb is, well, big.
"It has a handle on it if you want to hang it and a flat base if you want to sit it on the ground," he said, adding he figures it's replacement value would be around $200.
Barilla is hoping in the cold light of day the thief is having second thoughts and brings it back -- or that someone has seen it and reports it.
"We would appreciate getting it back," he said, pointing out while there have been several nutcracker-nappings from downtown Steubenville in the past, "We haven't had any trouble (in) years with things being taken from the fort, we've been pretty trouble free."
In an April 2022 off-season theft "The Waiter" was stolen from its perch at Froehlich's Classic Corner and stuffed in the back of a white van. He was returned hours later, presumably after his abductor sobered up, with a few scratches, a loose tail and a note saying only, I'm sorry, I wasn't being smart."
In December 2021 the St. Nicholas nutcracker was taken from its location at the intersection of Fourth and Market streets and, in December 2017, the Starman-Ziggy Stardust nutcracker, which was inspired by the late rock music icon David Bowie, was taken from the display at Fort Steuben Park.
Like "The Waiter," both of those nutcrackers were returned.
Police Chief Ken Anderson said detectives have surveillance footage from city cameras as well as the Visitor Center.
"We are also reaching out to West Virginia authorities regarding the vehicle that was used," he said. "Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Steubenville Police Department at (740) 282-5353."