SAN JOSE — Authorities are investigating the theft of an unusual topper from a tree decorated by the San Jose chapter of The Satanic Temple as part of this year’s Christmas in the Park.

The void once occupied by a large black goat head mask was filled Tuesday by a red star and a wood-engraved sign informing onlookers that a new topper was “coming soon.”

“Our intention was simply to bond with our community, craft a beautiful tree and be part of a San Jose tradition,” said chapter spokeswoman Sadie Satanas, who donated the religious symbol — constructed of clay, papier-mâché, foam, and silk — from her personal collection.

The topper was stolen late Saturday night, a day after the park opened, and the chapter learned it was missing Sunday. A report has been filed with the San Jose Police Department.

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The motive for the theft remains something of a mystery.

“It was probably someone who thought it was cool or someone who disagreed,” said Satanas, adding that the chapter did not fault the organizers of Christmas in the Park for the theft.

She said even if someone found The Satanic Temple’s presence at the traditionally family-oriented event offensive, stealing the topper was not the appropriate response.

“How we choose to display our religious values should have no bearing on whether we’re a target for theft,” she said. “We should be able to be as loud and proud as we want without fear of vandalism.”

As of Tuesday, chapter members had raised the $115 needed to commission a new mask.

This is the chapter’s first time participating in Christmas in the Park, which is held at Plaza de Cesar Chavez and is now in its 38th year.

Reyna Vargas, 18, of San Jose, heard about the theft from her boyfriend, a security guard at the event. She came to see the scene of the crime for herself, and while she did not find the tree “appropriate for this time of year,” she said it should have been left alone.

“I just think they should have thought more about what they were doing,” Vargas said about the chapter.

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Raymond Wong, 25, of San Francisco, also was at the park Tuesday afternoon. He said he could understand how some event-goers might find the tree and the topper unsettling.

“But at the end of the day, if that’s how they want to celebrate it, they should be allowed to do as they want,” he said.

Jason Minsky, executive director of Christmas in the Park, said any organization can apply to decorate a tree. There are no restrictions beyond a vague prohibition on the use of “offensive language.”

“It becomes a freedom of speech right, and they have the right to be involved in the event,” he said about the chapter.

“There are tons of different religions out there, and some religions offend other religions and some groups that are not religious offend other religions,” Minsky continued. “We saw what they decorated, and we had some conversations about it. We felt that was their freedom of speech right, and there wasn’t anything that we were going to do.”

There have been other thefts at the event. In fact, thieves also have targeted Christian symbols.

“The baby Jesus from our nativity scene gets stolen on a pretty regular basis,” Minsky said. “Last year it wasn’t stolen. The previous five it was. And one year it was stolen twice.”