Police are warning the public to be aware after a spate of thefts from cemeteries.
Officers in Wigan are now hunting a thief who stole memorial pots made of aluminum to sell on for scrap.
The first theft occurred between 3pm on 19 March 2016 and midday on 20 March 2016, when an unknown offender scoured Wigan Borough Council Cemetery, ransacked a large number of graves, stealing pots worth £4,000.
The second theft took place between 21 and 24 March 2016 at Westwood Cemetery, Westwood Lane in Lower Ince.
There, the offender stole a collection of flower pots from a number of different graves, to the value of £160.
There is currently no description of the offender.
Constable Sean Robinson said: “We are appealing for any information at all about this reprehensible crime.
“To steal from graves is sacrilege, it is an act which dishonours the memory of those who have passed away and causes enormous emotional distress to their families and loved ones.
“I daresay that someone visiting the cemeteries may have seen someone collecting these pots from graves, and may be able to assist us with a description of the offender.
“Similarly, it is likely these stolen items would have been taken to a scrap dealer, so I would like to appeal to any such dealers in the area to keep an eye out and report any such items to police.
“Lastly, I would like the offender to search their own conscience. Imagine it was your loved one’s grave which had been ransacked, how you would feel?
“Do the right thing and return the stolen items to the families of those people whose graves you have desecrated.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting incident number 290316/1044 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Main image by NZ War Graves
