LAKE ARROWHEAD, Calif. (VVNG.com) — Authorities are asking for the public’s help after a bronze dove was stolen from a memorial statue honoring fallen Detective Jeremiah MacKay in Lake Arrowhead.
According to a written statement from the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station, the theft occurred sometime between March 13 and March 27, 2026, at Lake Arrowhead Village.
Deputies said unknown suspect(s) removed a small bronze dove from the Detective Jeremiah MacKay memorial statue, which is located on the peninsula at 28200 Lake Edge Road.
The estimated replacement cost for the stolen bronze dove is between $3,000 and $5,000.
Detective Jeremiah MacKay, a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s detective and Lake Arrowhead native, was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 12, 2013, while assisting in the search for a fugitive during a multi-agency manhunt in the Big Bear area. He was a 14-year veteran of the department who began his career as a deputy in 1998 and was later promoted to detective, serving at several mountain stations including Twin Peaks.
The memorial has been targeted in the past. A post shared on the Jeremiah Mackay Memorial Statue in Lake Arrowhead Village Facebook page on Nov. 21, 2013, stated the bronze dove had previously been stolen and later recovered.
“Evidently a 13 year old boy from Lake Elsinore broke it off and brought it home then he showed it off on Instagram and someone saw it and reported him,” according to the Facebook post. The dove was eventually recovered and placed back on the memorial.
Anyone with information regarding the recent incident, the identity of the suspect(s), or the current location of the stolen item is urged to contact the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station at 909-336-0600.
Those wishing to remain anonymous may call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or submit information online at www.wetip.com.
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