SUPERIOR, Ariz. — Superior, as the oldest town in Pinal County, has a deep history, primarily as a mining town, that is reflected across the area today.
Through the years, Superior has honored its past and those who’ve helped build it by engraving their names on plaques and placing them on different monuments across the town.
But in recent weeks, the plaques were stolen. One was more than 50 years old.
“It’s really unfortunate,” Superior Mayor Mila Becich told 12News on Tuesday.
It was during an outdoor event the town hosted when they were alerted by residents that the plaques were missing.
“People were walking, ‘Oh, I noticed that plaque was gone,’” Becich said. “Then another resident ‘Oh, I noticed one of the plaques by the bridge was gone,’ and it was like, 'oh my gosh what is happening here?'”
In total, four plaques were discovered to have been stolen. Police Chief Tim Chavez believes the bolts that held the plaques were cut with a tool, possibly a saw.
Plaques stolen from monuments in the town of Superior
“It just baffles us why somebody would take them,” the Chief said. “There’s the possibility that these plaques were melted down if they were of value, but there’s a possibility that somebody has it in their yard or their closet at their house, so we’re just asking for the public’s help.”
The stolen plaques included one honoring fallen miners installed in the ’70s, a plaque from the “Helping Hands” statue created for the town's 100 anniversary installed in the 80s, and two from revitalized foot bridges that included the names of volunteers from the ’90s.
“Losing these plaques really is a disrespect to those people because that was our way to memorialize them and recognize them for their hard work,” the mayor said about the theft. “We’ll be replacing them with a material that is not going to be as attractive to be stolen.”
It’s unclear if the plaques were made of bronze, copper, or brass.
The mayor said they have received reports of stealing plaques from the cemetery.
As police investigate, the community has begun fundraising to replace part of the town’s history.