Stolen Lamps Anger Police, City Officials

The theft over the last month of ornate lampposts that graced the entrances to two Fullerton landmarks has outraged residents in a city that prides itself on historic preservation and left police investigators stumped.

A 6-foot wrought-iron lamp at the Plummer Auditorium was unscrewed from its foundation and taken in late September, while an 8-foot lamp, believed to be bronze, was snatched a few days later from outside the 1930s-era downtown post office.

“This is not just a theft of monetary gain,” said Police Det. Steve Williams, who is heading up the investigation. “This is a theft of a piece of this city’s history, and that makes it doubly bad.”

The Police Department on Tuesday issued a news release on the case that struck a similarly grave tone: “For more than a half century, they have lit the way for countless generations of Fullerton residents. Now the way is dark.”

City officials and local preservationists said the antique lamps are each worth thousands of dollars. But the posts are irreplaceable because of their age, beauty and historical significance, they said.

“This just strikes at the heart of our community values,” said Councilman Chris Norby. “Not only that, but it’s just plain larceny of public property.”

Investigators fear the thieves sold the lamps to a scrap yard for some quick cash. It would take two people and a pickup truck to cart off the 300-pound metal posts, said police spokesman Dave Stanko.

A salvage and metal company in Santa Ana contacted Tuesday said it would pay from 32 to 45 cents a pound for bronze, and a penny a pound for wrought iron.

Officials have no leads on the case and no suspects. They hope publicizing the thefts will generate tips.

“Hopefully, these people will give it a second thought and return something that is historically valuable to us,” Stanko said.

Mayor Don Bankhead takes the case seriously and hopes the posts will be recovered.

“Once something is lost, it can’t ever be regained,” he said. “You can copy it, but it’s still just a copycat.”

The U.S. Postal Service plans to establish an reward for information leading to the recovery of the lamps and the arrest and conviction of the thieves.

“It’s serious to us,” said Susan Edwards, a clerk at the post office and local history buff. “They were rather precious items. This is a historic landmark. It’s a shame to deface it that way.”