Mass Theft Of Bronze Vases Off Veterans’ Graves Called ‘Despicable’

NEWHALL (CBS) — Bronze vases have been stolen off the graves of an estimated 100 war veterans at a Santa Clarita cemetery that has been plagued by such thefts since last year.

The vases, which are 8 inches tall and made of solid bronze, were “cleaned out” from the veterans section of Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall, according to the Santa Clarita Signal.

“Theft from the graves at cemeteries is despicable, but it is especially despicable stealing from the graves of servicemen,” cemetery spokeswoman Jessica McDunn told the Signal.

The vases are worth about $150 each. Authorities believe they are being sold for scrap.

Eternal Valley Memorial Park has been plagued by such thefts for at least the past year. One man told The Signal that the bronze vase has been stolen off the grave of his son Sean, who was 12 years old when he died of leukemia in 2006, has been stolen three times in one month.