Thieves Target Phoenix Cancer Survivors Park Statues

Seven bronze statues have been stolen from the park located at First Street and McDowell Road over several years.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Property Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration showing an empty stone pedestal, representing the loss of public statues due to vandalism. — Phoenix city officials have filed police reports following the theft of seven bronze statues from the Cancer Survivors Park since 2011. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Seven of eight original bronze figures have been stolen from the Phoenix Cancer Survivors Park since 2011. The city has filed police reports regarding the ongoing thefts and vandalism at the site.

Why it matters

The statues are suspected to have been stolen for their scrap metal value, leaving only one figure remaining at the park. The city currently has no plans to replace the missing sculptures.

The city has filed official police reports for the thefts and vandalism targeting the sculptures. Currently, one damaged statue has been moved into storage while seven others remain missing.

The players

Phoenix Cancer Survivors Park

This public space located at First Street and McDowell Road is part of a broader network of cancer survivor parks found across the United States and Canada.

The details

The thefts at the Cancer Survivors Park have occurred sporadically, with documented incidents ranging from April 2011 to August 2026. One additional statue was previously damaged during a separate, unsuccessful theft attempt.

A child statue was stolen in April 2011.
One adult figure was stolen in March 2025.
One adult figure was stolen in August 2026.

Legal Context

The targeted removal of bronze art for scrap value follows a broader national pattern of metal theft from public memorials and infrastructure. These incidents reflect ongoing challenges for municipal authorities in securing public art against opportunistic crime.

Residents visiting the Cancer Survivors Park will notice the absence of the memorial statues that once populated the grounds. The city remains tasked with monitoring the remaining infrastructure at the site to prevent further vandalism.

The takeaway

The depletion of public memorials highlights the vulnerability of outdoor art installations to theft motivated by scrap value. Community members are encouraged to report suspicious activity around public park monuments to local authorities.