Coast Guard investigating beacon stolen from Superior lighthouse
By Danielle Kaeding, Wisconsin Public Radio
This article was republished here with permission from Wisconsin Public Radio.
The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating the theft of a navigational beacon at the lighthouse that guides ships into the Superior harbor.
The Coast Guard Investigative Service is offering a $1,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest or conviction.
Investigators say one or more individuals broke into the Superior Entry Lighthouse on Wisconsin Point on or around May 13. The unknown suspects severed the power supply and stole the beacon housed inside, according to a news release.
Ships use the beacon to safely enter and leave the harbor, especially at night or during poor weather. The Coast Guard called the theft a “reckless act” that threatened the safety of vessels using the Superior entry, saying its removal creates a hazard that could lead to collisions or groundings.
“Such accidents pose a direct, life-threatening danger to commercial mariners and local recreational boaters,” the Coast Guard said.
Investigators said a major incident also carries the risk of environmental damage from fuel spills or threatens to disrupt movement of ships carrying goods through the Great Lakes.
The Coast Guard said anyone who steals or tampers with a federal navigational aid could be charged with a felony.
Investigators are asking the public to report any suspicious individuals, vehicles or vessels near the lighthouse at the time of the theft. People can remain anonymous and submit tips to the Coast Guard through an online portal.
The 56-foot tall lighthouse was first lit in 1913. In 2019, the U.S. General Service Administration auctioned off the lighthouse to a tech industry executive from California for $159,000. Two years ago, the GSA once again made the lighthouse available at no cost to eligible parties, including nonprofit groups and government agencies.
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