Coast Guard Offers $1000 Reward After Beacon Stolen From Wisconsin Lighthouse

The U.S. Coast Guard is offering a reward for information after the beacon was stolen from a Wisconsin lighthouse.

The Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) said the break-in and theft at the privately owned Superior Entry Lighthouse on Wisconsin Point is believed to have taken place on or about May 13, 2026. An unknown suspect or suspects forced entry into the lighthouse, severed the power supply, and stole the Coast Guard-owned navigational beacon.

The Superior Entry South Breakwater Light guides vessels into and out of the harbor, and is especially critical at night or in poor weather conditions, the Coast Guard said.

“This is not a simple property crime; it is a reckless act that immediately jeopardizes public safety,” the Coast Guard said in a statement. “The removal of this navigational beacon creates a severe hazard that could lead to catastrophic vessel collisions or groundings. Such accidents pose a direct, life-threatening danger to commercial mariners and local recreational boaters.”

The Coast Guard also warned that a major vessel incident in the area risks “devastating environmental damage” and disruption to “critical” Great Lakes maritime commerce.

Investigators are “aggressively pursuing” all leads to recover the beacon and hold the perpetrators accountable.

CGIS said it is offering a $1,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone who has information about the case, or who observed any suspicious persons, vehicles or vessels near the Superior Entry Lighthouse or Wisconsin Point on or about May 13, is asked to contact investigators immediately.

Anonymous tips can be submitted to the CGIS Tips portal.