FORT WAYNE, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) - More than 100 bronze vases are missing at a Kokomo cemetery. Cemeteries in the Fort Wayne area have seen similar thefts before and there are a few things local cemeteries are doing.
The bronze vases are a popular choice for people to place beside their loved ones. But the vases are also very valuable because the bronze has copper in it.
At Greenlawn Memorial Gardens you see a lot of them. But one cemetery in the Summit City says they simply can't allow them.
"Knowing what the history is here in Fort Wayne and in other cities around the state we've just decided to not have bronze markers that have the bronze vases," said David McComb, Riverview Cemetery.
McComb says they've seen thefts like this before in the area and they made this decision many years ago. Although the bronze vases are valuable it's pretty hard to get anything out of them once they're stolen.
"To gather up 20 or 30 vases and take them to some place, we have metal recycling businesses here in this area and I don't believe that they would recycle those vases if someone brought them there, I think somebody would look at 20 or 30 vases and go, oh there's something wrong here," said McComb.
That's why Greenlawn Memorial Gardens has been able to continue offering the bronze vases.
"The scrap metal businesses are well aware of what's happening and have done a very good job in supporting the police department and the cemeteries and reporting anything that's brought to them that maybe suspicious," said Tom Pehlke, Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.
Pehlke says they have been looking into some new materials that look like bronze but aren't. He says they are researching them more to see if it is something they will start carrying.
What are your thoughts CLICK HERE to leave us a "Your2Cents” comment.
TextCaster alerts from Indiana's NewsCenter are your defining source for instant information delivered right to your cell phone and email. It's free, easy and instant. Sign-Up Now!
Powered by Summit City Chevrolet
© Copyright 2013 A Granite Broadcasting Station. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Textcaster
Facebook
Twitter