Photo: patch.com
LYNWOOD (CNS) - Sheriff's detectives Saturday are continuing their search for a copper statue that stood outside Marco Antonio Firebaugh High School in Lynwood.
The grand theft occurred in the front of the high school at 5246 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. sometime between 2 p.m. Saturday and 10:45 a.m. Sunday, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff's Detective A. Ortiz.
Thieves previously tried to steal the statue at around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, with the suspects possibly driving a black truck, Ortiz said.
The 8-foot statue depicts the school's namesake, Marco Antonio Firebaugh, who served in the California State Assembly from 1998 until 2004. He died in 2006 at age 39 from complications of a liver ailment, roughly one year after the school bearing his name was dedicated.
The roughly $8,000 statue has a hollowed out middle and depicts Firebaugh with his right hand outstretched and his left hand holding an open book.
"The Lynwood Unified School District is deeply saddened and disappointed by the theft of a statue honoring former California Assemblyman Marco Antonio Firebaugh from the high school named in his honor," district officials said in a Jan. 21 post on X, formerly Twitter. "Firebaugh High School stands as a symbol of inspiration and educational excellence, and the statue -- which stood proudly and prominently in front of the campus -- was a tribute to a leader who dedicated his life to public service and advocacy.
"This unfortunate incident will not deter us from continuing to uphold the values and principles Marco Antonio Firebaugh exemplified throughout his career. In conjunction with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, we are committed to finding the perpetrators responsible, ensuring the safe return of our statue, and continuing to foster a safe school environment for students, staff and community."
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the statue or the identity of those who stole the statue was asked to call Ortiz at 213-420-7972 or 323-568-4907. Tipsters can also call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.