OPP Seeks Public’s Help to Recover Stolen Cemetery Items Now

URGENT UPDATE: The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) are urgently seeking the public’s assistance in recovering items stolen from cemeteries across Norfolk County. Authorities have released a video showcasing two tables filled with bronze and brass fixtures, including vases, religious statues, and decorative metalwork. These items symbolize the desecration of multiple gravesites, leaving families devastated.

On August 19, a 39-year-old man from Oxford County was arrested in Waterford after an OPP officer spotted the stolen fixtures in his vehicle. This officer had previously observed the same vehicle at the Waterford Greenwood Cemetery on Thompson Road East earlier that day. Disturbingly, police discovered an urn containing human remains inside the vehicle as well.

Constable Andrew Gamble expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “What these items represent are dozens of desecrated gravesites,” adding that even fellow officers were at a “loss for words.” The investigation has revealed that stolen cemetery property was sold for scrap, leading to serious charges against the suspect, including indignity to a dead body, trafficking in stolen goods over $5,000, and possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000.

Similar thefts have been reported in recent weeks at the Delhi Cemetery, Port Dover Cemetery, Sacred Heart Cemetery in Langton, and Bayview Cemetery in Port Rowan. The impact of these crimes has resonated deeply within the community, with Constable Gamble emphasizing, “The impact of this crime is so far-reaching in our community, but the important thing is that we’ve identified the individual who was responsible.”

The OPP urges anyone who recognizes the stolen items to come forward. Individuals are asked to email the Norfolk County detachment at [email protected]. Please provide full contact information, the name of the cemetery from which the item was taken, and a brief description of the theft or damage to the gravesite.

This developing story highlights a troubling trend affecting the sanctity of final resting places. As the investigation unfolds, community members are called to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to protect their local cemeteries.

Stay tuned for updates on this urgent matter and the OPP’s ongoing efforts to recover these stolen treasures.