Five individuals from Down East Carteret County were cited Sunday for breaking into the Cape Lookout Lighthouse.
Cape Lookout National Seashore rangers were notified Sunday night that the group, which included the five who received citations, was attempting to break into Cape Lookout Lighthouse, staff announced Wednesday on Facebook.
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On their first attempt around 10 p.m. Sunday, the group, said to be in their late teens or early 20s, was chased away but returned after midnight with tools from their boat to remove hardware from the door to enter the lighthouse.
The rangers investigating found that those involved were all from Carteret County and the five that broke into the lighthouse were from Down East communities, according to the post. Only those who entered the lighthouse were issued citations and fined.
National Seashore Public Information Officer BG Horvat told Coastal Review Online Thursday that “through the keen eye of our park volunteers and visitors who also were around to witness them,” they were able to catch the individuals.
“They broke into the lighthouse for the view at the top. They were actually caught after having taken their view, as they were coming out of the lighthouse,” he said.
There was no significant damage to the lighthouse, Horvat said.
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Except for Coast Guard personnel conducting periodic maintenance checks on the light or park staff checking the condition of the lighthouse tower, the lighthouse is closed this season to public entry.
