BONITA, Calif. — Metal vases are disappearing from grave sites at Glen Abbey Memorial Park Cemetery and Mortuary.
The San Diego Sheriff's Office says since mid-October, metal vases have been stolen from grave sites, leaving families distraught and searching for solutions.
The stolen vases, estimated to be worth $1,000 each, are likely being taken for their scrap value. The cemetery, which has hundreds of empty holes is grappling with this wave of thefts despite having a gated entrance.
Jose Verdugo regularly visits the graves of his mother and brother.
"It's really sad," Verdugo said. "Maybe people don't understand the effort and the sacrifices that you make to buy everything that goes with it."
Some families are taking matters into their own hands by securing vases with chains to deter thieves. Others are calling for increased security measures, such as the installation of cameras on the cemetery grounds.
Manuel Dean just learned of the thefts.
"Mom and dad have been there for the last 17 years," Dean said. "It's just sad, it's just sad. The Lord knows, the Lord sees and us humans, there's nothing we can do."
As the investigation continues, families like Verdugo's are determined to protect their loved ones' memorials.
"I got to do something about it," Verdugo said. "Somehow I'll make it happen."
The Sheriff's Office is urging anyone who has been a victim of these thefts to contact them at (619) 498-2400.
Glen Abbey Memorial Park and Mortuary Management sent the following statement to CBS 8:
"We take safety and security very seriously and routinely evaluate the security needs of the cemetery. However, cemeteries, by their nature, are open to the public. We have filed a police report and are working closely with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. It saddens us that thieves are preying on cemeteries and gravesites to commit these crimes. The Sheriff's department has advised us to emphasize that the families are the victims in these incidents. We strongly encourage families to report the thefts directly to local authorities, as this is the most effective way to support ongoing investigations and help protect other families in the park.
As we have reached out to various scrap metal dealers, we hope they will continue supporting us in this partnership by remaining vigilant for anyone attempting to sell bronze vases from cemetery property. We encourage them to promptly contact local law enforcement to report any suspicious activity."