Crime & Safety

Statue Stolen From Local Mortuary; Suspect Sought

A life-sized statue and a bronze plaque went missing one recent night from Miller-Jones Mortuary in Menifee, and surveillance footage has been released in hopes of identifying a suspect.

A life-sized statue and a bronze plaque were reported missing from a local mortuary, and police are seeking to identify a suspect.

Employees at Miller-Jones Mortuary, 26770 Murrieta Road in Menifee, arrived at 7 a.m. Nov. 19 to find the items missing, according to Perris sheriff's Sgt. Glenn Williams.

"The statue is a life-sized depiction of a child climbing a tree to touch a bird," Williams said.

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Surveillance footage released Tuesday shows a suspect using a tool to pry a large bronze plaque from an exterior wall of the business.

The suspect in the video appears to be a white male wearing a dark-colored jacket, shirt and hat with light-colored blue jeans with holes and dark-colored shoes.

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Employees believe the theft occurred on the evening of Sunday, Nov. 18, Williams said.

Authorities urged anyone with information regarding the theft to contact Investigator Guy Gilbert with the Riverside Sheriff's Department Perris Station at 951-210-1000.


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