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Thieves Target Mementos at Clandeboye Cemetery
09 July 2010
North Down Borough Council is advising visitors to Clandeboye Cemetery to be vigilant after having received reports that flowers, plants, vases and flower holders have been stolen from a number of graves.
During the past month six families have been left distressed following the theft of mementos from a relative’s grave. The Council’s Cemetery Superintendent, Stephen Conn, suspects that other graves may also have been targeted but that the families concerned have not reported the theft.
He commented: “It is a sad fact that some people have no compunction about stealing from gravesides. It is, however, usually a very rare occurrence but with six incidences of theft reported to cemetery staff during the past month we are keen to alert visitors to the problem.
“While we have staff on site throughout the hours that the cemetery is open, it is not possible for us to ‘police’ the cemetery in any meaningful way. Sadly this means the best advice we can offer visitors is not to leave items of particular value, sentimental or otherwise, at gravesides, unless it is possible to ensure they are well secured against theft or damage.
“We would ask visitors to be vigilant when at the cemetery and to report any thefts or suspicious behaviour they may witness to staff.”
Clandeboye Cemetery’s summer opening hours are 8am – 9pm. The Cemetery Superintendent can be contacted on (028) 9185 3246. For more information contact Claire Jackson on (028) 9127 8052, 07971 953907 or claire.jackson@northdown.gov.uk
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