The area that has long held the historical marker for the Lake Orion United Methodist Church now stands bare.
The marker, which deemed the church as a Michigan Registered Historical Site, has been stolen. According to Rev. Bruce Denton, the marker was put on the building in 1972 to commemorate 100 years, as the cornerstone of the building was put in in 1872.
‘We would like it back,? Denton said. ‘No questions asked.?
According to Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh, who is investigating the larceny, a person most likely stole it for its historical value or a misguided notion that it might be able to be melted down and sold for money.
‘It has no value as scrap metal,? Narsh said, noting that any individual or scrapyard found with it in their possession could face serious charges, including jail time and large fines.
A person caught with a marker in their possession can face up to 93 days in jail and a $5,000 fine, plus the cost of repairing, reinstalling or replacing the marker.
‘I understand we are in hard economic times,? Denton added, ‘but there are better ways to get help then to steal property.?
No one is quite sure when the marker was stolen, and according to Narsh, they are currently going back through wedding videos to get a timeline of the theft. As of a wedding in early January, the marker was already missing.
According to Denton, it was first discovered missing when a church employee was removing outside Christmas decorations and discovered a bolt laying on the ground. He then noticed that the marker was missing.
Narsh requests that anyone with information regarding the historic marker should contact the LO police department at (248)693-8321 or e-mail tipline@lakeorion.org.
The historic marker is made of cast aluminum, and features gold letters on a green background, with a wolverine and ‘Michigan Registered Historic Site? at the top.
‘It really needs to be back where it belongs,? he added.