Grieving families targeted in callous gravesite robberies
Four families in Victoria have been left devastated after the gravesites of their loved ones have been callously burgled.
Maurice D'Alberti was visiting the grave of his son Adam at the Fawkner Memorial Park in North Melbourne when he noticed sentimental items had been taken.
Adam passed away six years ago after a battle with cancer, and his father was visiting his son's resting place on what would've been his 10th birthday when he made the discovery that toy cars, along with an engraved ribbon and a photo of Adam were gone.
"As a parent that's lost a child, we hang on to things, that they've touched, and things that they've loved," D'Alberti told 9News.
"You can't get any lower. He's already been robbed of his life and now he's been robbed of his possessions."
At least three other graves had also been ransacked, with the families feeling "great distress" over the stolen items.
Jake Maurici noticed that precious items had been taken from his father Vince's grave, and wants to see better security installed in the memorial park.
Jake was devastated to learn that the brazen thieves had taken off with a football scarf and pins from his dad's grave, given their sentimental value to both him and his father as diehard Carlton fans.
"Things I get emotional about, going to the footy with my dad... we did it when I was younger," he said.
"Having stuff that was with him is what I remember him by."
"I think the security needs to be improved...my mother comes here late at night," Maurici said.
The families are calling on the culprits to do the right thing and return the stolen items.
Image credits: Nine News