SUPERIOR — Suspects forced entry into the Superior Entry Lighthouse on May 13, 2026, severed the power supply, and stole the U.S. Coast Guard-owned navigational beacon from the Superior Entry South Breakwater Light. The U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service has launched an investigation into the theft and is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
The beacon was taken from the structure located at the end of Wisconsin Point in Superior, Wisconsin. Although the lighthouse itself is privately owned, the beacon is federal property maintained by the Coast Guard as a critical aid to navigation. The Coast Guard Investigative Service stated that the theft is not simply a property crime, but an act that immediately jeopardizes public safety.
“The Superior Entry South Breakwater Light is a critical piece of safety infrastructure that guides vessels safely into and out of the harbor, especially during the night and in poor weather conditions,” according to a Coast Guard press release. “Removing the navigational beacon creates a severe hazard that could lead to catastrophic vessel collisions or grounding.” The release added that maritime aids to navigation function exactly like traffic lights and street signs on roadways.
Coast Guard investigators are aggressively pursuing all leads and are asking anyone who saw suspicious people, vehicles, or vessels near the Superior Entry Lighthouse or Wisconsin Point around May 13, 2026, to come forward. Tips can be submitted online through the CGIS Tips portal, and tipsters may remain anonymous. Stealing or tampering with a federal aid to navigation is a federal felony.