More than 70 bronze vases valued at more than $50,000 were stolen from a Waco cemetery.
Robinson Police said 72 vases were stolen over the past week from grave sites at Waco Memorial Cemetery. The vases are worth $700 each.
"There may be more reported later and there may even be some stolen from the nearby Chapel Hill Cemetery," said Robinson Police Chief, Rusty Smith. "We are still waiting on family and grounds keepers to notify us if they discover vases missing from area cemeteries.”
Thieves typically sell these types of vases to scrap metal buyers. Robinson Police contacted area scrap metal buyers, who had not reported anyone trying sell bronze vases.
Smith said several years ago thieves targeted the same cemetery.
“88% of bronze is copper and copper and copper prices continue to rise. It’s just sad that someone would take a loving memorial just to make money,” Smith said.
Waco Memorial Funeral Home & Cemeteries released a statement to Channel 6:
The recent vase theft at Waco Memorial & Chapel Hill Park is an unfortunate act of vandalism. we are currently in the process of determining the extent of the theft with the assistance of local police. We will be contacting all affected lot owners and offering a replacement vase unit at NO - CHARGE to the family. If you believe you have been affected, please contact us at 254-662-1051
Police are asking anyone with information about the thefts call crime stoppers at 254-753-4357.
