"It's a sad world": Audacious act of thievery at cemetery
A cemetery located in southwest Sydney has been targeted by callous thieves, after a number of families have reported missing portions of their loved ones' memorial plaques.
The theft primarily involves the removal of bronze vases, which are situated below the surface within these memorial plaques. It is suspected that a group of individuals orchestrated the theft in order to sell the items as scrap metal.
As families grapple with their grief, they now must now contend with the shock of discovering that the resting places of their beloved ones have been desecrated by vandals.
Sydney resident Nicole Futcher shared her experience after visiting her grandmother's memorial site, only to find that the bronze vase placed there was among the recent targets of theft. She told Yahoo News:
"I was in shock when I seen it was gone, then I seen many others around her missing as well. I thought maybe the cemetery was replacing them all."
When Nicole spoke with ground staff to ask after the missing vases were, she was told she was not the only victim, and that they had ALL gone missing.
"That was the last thing I would have thought had happened. It's a sad world."
Adding insult to injury, the affected families have been offered hollow replacements – vases made from inferior, plastic materials – having already paid for the bronze vases that now lie in the hands of thieves.
Forest Lawn Memorial Park, for its part, acknowledges the grievousness of the situation and has alerted the authorities.
Regrettably, this incident is not the first instance of a cemetery being targeted by thieves with personal gain in mind. In 2019, a distressing event occurred in Queensland, where a cemetery north of Brisbane fell victim to the theft of more than 50 brass plates.
The Caboolture and Districts Lawn Cemetery saw the removal of 52 brass plates and damage to six headstones in March of that year. The estimated value of the stolen plates from the headstones amounted to approximately $26,000.
The news of this theft garnered strong reactions on social media, with many residents expressing their outrage. A sentiment of condemnation prevailed, as one woman stated, “What a despicable act and heartless thieves,” underscoring her personal connection to the matter due to her grandmother's burial in the same cemetery.
“Some people just have no respect for anything anymore,” commented another, while a third wrote: “Total disrespect – how do they sleep at night?”
Images: Facebook / Queensland Police