Staff at Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens are trying to figure out how over a dozen brass vases, shown here, were stolen from their property over the last few weeks. (Nanaimo RCMP)

By Alex Rawnsley

grave theft

‘It’s a senseless act:’ over a dozen memorial vases stolen from Cedar cemetery

May 17, 2024 | 4:08 PM

NANAIMO — A cemetery south of the city is dealing with a string of thefts from their grounds.

Around a dozen bronze vases attached to headstones have been stolen from the Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens on Cedar Rd. over the last two weeks, creating a highly emotional situation for loved ones with family members buried at the site, and staff at the facility.

Spokesperson for the cemetery’s parent company Arbor Memorial Angelique Richardson told NanaimoNewsNOW they’re working to assess the scope of the loss and are working with police.

“It’s a senseless act, our thoughts are with the families that have had to find out from us, or have found out these vases have been stolen. We continue to contact these affected families letting them know we have some interim solutions for them.”

Richardson added “a few other” families are yet to be notified.

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Some found out last weekend, as people returned to the cemetery to place flowers in the vases on or around Mother’s Day. Nanaimo RCMP say the first theft occurred around May 12, and the last theft was reported on May 17.

The vases are optional additions to a “Flat Bronze Marker” style headstone to memorialize a loved one.

Richardson said she didn’t want to speculate when or how the thefts took place, but said the facility does have security on staff.

“When something like this happens on our grounds, everyone is impacted, including us. We continue to work with authorities to find out what happened and hopefully bring some comfort to these families.”

The company has also reached out to local scrap metal businesses, providing descriptions of the vases and the Nanaimo RCMP file number for business owners to report anyone trying to sell the items.

Nanaimo RCMP continue to investigate the situation and anyone with information about the thefts is asked to contact the detachment at 250 754 2345.

As of May 23, no suspects have been identified.

“These thefts are extremely disturbing,” said Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien. “First and foremost the families who purchased the vases then placed them next to their loved ones are simply outraged that someone would resort to stealing something as personal as this. Also, there is really no commercial value for bronze so overall, it just doesn’t (make) any sense at all.”

(Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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