As with all cemeteries, those with loved ones buried at Glen Abbey Memorial Park & Mortuary often place flowers on the graves in memory and remembrance.
But since the middle of last summer, the Bonita cemetery has been hit by thieves who target the metal vases used to hold flowers. Cemetery officials said it has been attacked dozens of times, most recently last weekend, and each vase cost about $1,000.
The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the robberies, but no suspect has been identified, the agency said Friday in a news release.
“We are saddened that thieves take advantage of cemeteries and graves to commit these crimes,” the cemetery said in a statement to the Union-Tribune. “The sheriff’s department has advised us to emphasize that families are the victims of these incidents.”
The cemetery encouraged families to report the thefts to authorities, stating it was “the most effective way to support ongoing investigations and help protect other families in the park.”
The cemetery said it had also contacted scrap dealers to ask them to remain “vigilant against anyone attempting to sell bronze vases from cemetery property.”
The cemetery has dealt with similar problems in the past, but the recent series marks the first time the problem has occurred this year.
“We take security very seriously and routinely evaluate the cemetery’s security needs,” the cemetery said. “However, cemeteries, by their nature, are open to the public.”
Glen Abbey is not the only one taking on metal thieves. Hundreds of bronze plaques were stolen from the historic Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery in Carson earlier this year, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Original Story
‘Families are the victims’: Metal thieves target flower vases at Bonita cemetery
Originally Published: November 11, 2024 at 7:17 AM PST
