An ornament that was stolen off the Sundance Square Christmas tree in Downtown Fort Worth was safely returned by an anonymous person, according to the organization. 

The ornament was stolen on Nov. 23 at 12:46 a.m. Sundance Square said the brand new ornament was made by local artist Arely Morales.

In a social media post, Sundance Square Art said the ornament was returned around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday by an unknown man on a motorcycle. The ornament was handed to a passerby, who was asked to return it to the Sundance Square security team.

"Whoever returned it must've felt maybe a little Christmas magic," the post said. "That kind of goodwill could make any heart grow three sizes."

The thief was seen on surveillance video getting out of a four-door gray Audi, running up to the tree, grabbing the extra-large ornament, then getting back in the car and driving away.

The 86-foot-tall tree arrived in Fort Worth on Nov. 13 as the tallest live Christmas tree in Texas. The 79th Christmas Tree Lighting in Sundance Square is on Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.

Artist's tribute ornament stolen from Sundance Square  

Simone Fischer is the Sundance Square Gallery manager and curator. As a part of her responsibilities, she worked closely with more than 50 artists selected for the 2025 ornament tree paintings.

"And so, there's representations of Latin culture. There's the story of the Christmas pickle. So, you never know what you're going to get with the artist, " Fischer said. "But that's what I think makes this tree so much fun."

Everything, she said, was hung with other layers still getting put in place when an alleged theft struck.

"And it happened really, really fast. And she stole one of the ornaments by artist Arely Morales," she said.

It was Morales' first year, so her ornament got a featured spot. Fischer said it was so the artist could easily see it and for pictures with family and friends.

Morales, who spoke with CBS News Texas by phone, said she's hoping her ornament is returned. The artist said she recalls putting in 10 hours on the blue background, a large sphere showcasing a cat on a piñata. The cat, she said, is her deceased pet Gris; "Grey" in Spanish.  

"I remembered how she used to pose," Morales said.

The cultural joy and homage to Gris was taken from the tree. 

Erick Alejandro Gomez Urbina is a 29-year-old artist who goes by Gomez. It's his third year with an ornament on the massive tree. He worked alongside Morales as she completed her ornament.

"I put my whole identity into that ornament," Gomez said. "And my identity is really influenced by my community and my culture. And those are two things that I hold so close to my heart."

Fischer is asking the person who removed the ornament to return it before the Christmas Tree lighting next week, rather than face criminal prosecution.

Baby Jesus previously stolen from Sundance Square

Three years ago, baby Jesus was stolen from a Nativity scene at Sundance Square. A plea to return worked.

"Baby Jesus was returned to us by Fort Worth PD in a car seat. Safely returned to his spot," she said. "So, we just hope, and we welcome to just give the ornament back. So then Arely can get her shine on the tree."