A series of disturbing cemetery thefts has left multiple regions across Pennsylvania grappling with a ‘graverobber’ crisis, as families are left feeling violated over the ‘desecration’ of their loved ones’ final resting places.
Several police departments across the Philadelphia region are investigating a string of crimes involving thieves stealing the doors off the front of mausoleums since February, likely in an attempt to scrap the rare metals for profit.
Seven cemeteries across Delaware County have been targeted, including those in the Philadelphia, Delaware, Bucks and Montgomery counties, as boarded-up mausoleum doors become increasingly more common.
‘It was shocking, to say the least,’ Samantha Bromley, the general manager of Montefiore Cemetery in Jenkintown, told 6 ABC News.
‘They had been taken off the hinges, the glass had been removed out of the portion and set down,’ she added. ‘It’s desecration of a grave.’
Police said the heartless criminals have been stealing the precious bronze doors off of mausoleums – each being worth more than $10,000 and weighing more than 200 pounds – and leaving the evidence behind.
In what appeared to be an overnight crime, three sets of mausoleum doors were stolen from Montefiore Cemetery in Jenkintown on February 10, leaving workers saddened and disturbed for the families.
The doors are ‘valued at about $15,000 each, so about a $30,000 total just from our cemetery,’ Chief Graeff told 6ABC.
Multiple regions across Philadelphia are grappling with a ‘graverobber’ crisis over the last month
Seven cemeteries across Delaware County have been targeted, including those in the Philadelphia, Delaware, Bucks and Montgomery counties, as boarded-up mausoleum doors become increasingly more common
Tiny screws were seen scattered across the floor after robbers made off with the bronze doors that once guarded the tombs
More recently, the final resting places of two additional families were hit at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Marple Township, with loved ones calling the act ‘despicable.’
Mary Beth McGinty, of Havertown, was left in complete shock over the thefts as she is regularly at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery for daily walks, CBS News reported.
‘It makes me angry because it’s sacred ground,’ she told the outlet, adding how the situation reeks of disrespect. ‘People do care about their dead relatives and friends, so it’s really awful to do this.’
After the thieves made off with the stolen doors, tiny screws were seen scattered across the floor, serving as evidence of the macabre crime.
‘Just simply unscrewed them from their hinges,’ Chief Graeff told CBS.
Michele Stone, a spokesperson for Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery, said that the rash of robberies has left both workers and families ‘troubled,’ according to 6ABC.
‘These criminal acts were a violation of the peaceful sanctuaries that so many of our community members utilize and rely upon to connect with their deceased loved ones,’ Stone said.
‘It is imperative that all community members and visitors respect these spaces of reflection and quiet contemplation.’
Due to the weight and sturdiness of each door, police believe that multiple people are responsible for the destruction plaguing cemeteries across the state
Forest Hills Cemetery in Huntingdon Valley, North Cedar Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Mt. Sharon Cemetery in Springfield, Roosevelt Memorial Park in Trevose and Oakland Cemetery in Philadelphia were also targeted in the slew of thefts
In what appeared to be an overnight crime , three sets of mausoleum doors were stolen from Montefiore Cemetery in Jenkintown on February 10, leaving workers saddened and disturbed for the families
Forest Hills Cemetery in Huntingdon Valley, North Cedar Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia, Mt. Sharon Cemetery in Springfield, Roosevelt Memorial Park in Trevose and Oakland Cemetery in Philadelphia were also targeted in the slew of thefts.
‘Theft is always wrong, but stealing from a resting place is particularly disturbing,’ a spokesperson for Forest Hills and Roosevelt Memorial Park told 6ABC.
‘Over the past couple of months, thieves have preyed on our cemeteries, stealing several bronze doors from mausoleums in the middle of the night.’
Due to the weight and sturdiness of each door, police believe that multiple people are responsible for the destruction plaguing cemeteries across the state.
‘It’s very likely they’re connected somehow,’ Graeff told CBS. ‘If not the same actors, a group of them all involved in this.’
Detective Dan Lazzeari of the Marple Police Department agreed and said: ‘We suspect a crew. Same crew. They’re heavy. They’re bronze metal doors valued between $10,000 and $15,000. We’ve been hearing estimates,’ Fox 29 reported.
Quick cash, police said, is the most likely reason as to why these thieves are wreaking havoc across several graveyards and disrespectfully stealing from the dead.
‘They’re taking them to local scrapyards for money. Quick cash,’ Graeff said to Fox 29.
More recently, the final resting places of two additional families were hit at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Marple Township, with loved ones calling the act ‘despicable’
Quick cash, police said, is the most likely reason as to why these thieves are wreaking havoc across several graveyards and disrespectfully stealing from the dead, as they are likely selling it to a scrap dealer
On the contrary, police pointed out, it takes a ruthless scrap dealer to continue purchasing the stolen doors from the thieves, who are merely looking to resell the valuable bronze metal they’re made of
On the contrary, Graeff pointed out, it takes a ruthless scrap dealer to continue purchasing the stolen doors from the thieves, who are merely looking to resell the valuable bronze metal they’re made of.
‘If the scrap yards know about it, if it comes to them in one piece, if it’s identifiable, it’s gonna raise some flags,’ Graeff continued. ‘We deal with some very honorable businesses, but we also deal with unscrupulous ones too.’
‘It’s the kind of thing we ask cooperation from local scrap yards or people who are maybe employees there who see something a little bit shady to give us a call.’
Investigators are also urging cemeteries to invest in surveillance cameras, as now may be as good a time as any to utilize the extra eyes – especially in massive graveyards like Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery.
‘It’s a very large cemetery where you could be in there for hours and not even be seen in the corner to get these doors off,’ Graeff told Fox 29. ‘Our patrol guys are out there. They’re well aware of it, and they patrol the cemeteries at night as well.’
‘We’re talking $15,000 mausoleum doors,’ he told CBS. ‘It might be something they consider doing. It would help us.’
Police are now searching for those responsible, hoping to bring them to justice.
‘It’s serious stuff,’ Detective Lazzeari told Fox 29. ‘Even the case alone, we’re talking anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000, a felony easy, and it’s the same group. And you combine them all, you’re looking at some time.’
Investigators are also urging cemeteries to invest in surveillance cameras, as now may be as good a time as any to utilize the extra eyes – especially in massive graveyards like Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery
Mary Beth McGinty, of Havertown, told CBS: ‘It makes me angry because it’s sacred ground. People do care about their dead relatives and friends, so it’s really awful to do this’
Detective Dan Lazzeari of the Marple Police Department told Fox29: ‘It’s serious stuff. Even the case alone, we’re talking anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000, a felony easy, and it’s the same group. And you combine them all, you’re looking at some time’
As several departments investigate, they are urging anyone who may have seen something dating back to mid-February to immediately call them, as they are looking for leads.
‘Even if they think it’s nothing, please call us,’ Graeff told CBS. ‘It could be linked to a lot of others.’
Additionally, Graeff said, the thieves may have looked as though they were completing work or maintenance in the mausoleums at the time of the heist.
‘I think it’s pretty low,’ Graeff told Fox 29. ‘It’s a sacred ground where somebody’s family paid a lot of money for the right to bury that loved one, and now you’re taking call metal doors. I find it pretty low.’
‘It’s one thing to disturb and steal from someone’s final resting place, but you’re also trampling on the emotions of their loving loved ones.’
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