In Waikumete cemetery in West Auckland where my son was buried, a gang of idiots, brainless hoons had been removing brass plaques and selling them for $21 each. It cost the loved ones at least $500 to have them made.
These idiots are not young kids. Last year, a 33-year-old Lower Hutt man has been arrested and charged with theft following the disappearance of more than 40 bronze plaques from the Whenua Tapu Cemetery, north of Wellington.
"This kind of offending is absolutely appalling. These plaques honour graves of people's loved ones," Inspector Gary Davey said.
Dan Sales from Waikumete Cemetery said after a search of records it was found out that 13 of the plaques were from their graves.
The plaques were ripped from the resting place of loved ones at the cemetery.
Just scum, just the lowest of the low," said Sales.
"There are certain things that you just do not do in life and one of them is grave rob. People used to be hung for that, graverobbing and I'd put that in that context."
A bronze or copper plaque costs families about $500 but the scrap metal value is just $21 at today's rates.
"It's part of that grieving process and people do like that visual name, they do like to see that name on their loved ones' graves...to take that away it's just unbelievable," said Sales.
Police are still hunting another person in connection to the case.
They say families with missing brass plaques on graves at Waikumete Cemetery should contact them.
My Andrew's plaque is cemented in my heart where nobody can steal.
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i'm terribly sorry this is going on. we have stupid kids vandalizing cemetaries here sometimes - knocking over old headstones and angel statues, etc. just senseless.
ReplyDeleteI'm really sorry to hear about that. I'm glad that your son's plaque is safe in your heart at least. :)
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