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Flower thieves target Silverbrook Cemetery
Published 4:02pm Thursday, July 5, 2012A Niles resident is upset after learning someone stole two hanging flower baskets from her grandmother’s grave at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles this week.
Janet Hendershott noticed the flowers were missing when she went to water them Monday.
“It was a giant pink petunia and a big red geranium (basket),” she said. “People might not think it is a big deal, but, to me, it is disgraceful. It’s disgusting that someone would do this. It really is.”
Silverbrook Cemetery employees said what happened to Hendershott is a growing problem.
“It’s a lot worse now than it was in the past. I’d say 70 percent worse,” said Ron Krueger, who has worked at the cemetery for nearly 30 years.
Krueger’s co-worker, Leanne Hoese, said she gets calls nearly every day from people complaining of stolen items.
Hoese said the cemetery keeps a record of all complaints, but employees don’t forward them to police — they leave that to the people filing the complaint. Hoese estimates as many as 75 plants have gone missing so far this year.
“We’ve had garden hoses stolen, too,” Hoese said. “They’ll steal anything that isn’t nailed down.”
Niles City Police Chief Jim Millin said he isn’t aware of any recent reports of items stolen from Silverbrook Cemetery.
“But I would agree on occasion we have thefts of flowers and, sometimes, figurines there,” he said.
Hoese said flower thefts increase around holidays because that is when loved ones typically spruce up gravesites with newer and better flowers and displays.
“Some of these flower baskets aren’t cheap — $50 to $60 bucks a pop — which is one reason why people get so upset,” Hoese said. “We wish somebody would get caught.”
Hoese said thefts probably occur at night or between the hours of 4 p.m. and dusk. Cemetery employees generally get off work around 4 p.m.
Millin said police patrol the cemetery before locking the gates around dusk.
“If people see something suspicious, they should contact police,” Millin said.
Betty Whiting, of Niles, was at Silverbrook Cemetery Thursday morning watering flowers around her family plots. She said she has never had anything stolen from her plots but has heard of it happening elsewhere.
“The cemetery is one place you’d hope people would leave alone,” she said.
Tags: Silverbrook Cemetery
I certainly hope something more will be done about this on going problem….. you know if they had 75 people taking time to complain to the cemetary…there are alot more people missing things that dont know who to contact. Alot of people put things out once a year and never go back, their things are also stolen, just not reported also. I have had things stolen thoughout the years.
I do think it is the job of the cemetary to report these theifs to the police, not each indivual persons job, they are the caretakers.
I know they lock up the cemetary every night, but this is no longer enough….if you really want to know who is taking all the flowers and things…you will need cameras or people in unmarked police cars…..
I just dont think people realize how widespread this problem really is and how tramatic it is for the people that have just lost their loved ones.
I too have had things stolen from Silverbrook Cemetery, from my father’s grave and from my brother’s grave: plants, figurines, wind chimes, solar lights, and even a picture taken right out of the frame (yeah, that was really strange)! Several years ago, around 2005 I think it was, the most expensive item stolen was a gazing ball and the pedestal. I have even written my name on the bottom of items in permanent marker but that does not deter the thieves from stealing. They simply do not care and probably just paint over my name/identifying marks. I have often wanted to place other beautiful/expensive items on their sites but I refrain from doing so because I know what will happen. Unfortunately some people have no heart or conscience.
I am sad to say my family has put very memorable things at Silverbrook Cemetery for my Dear Mother: Sally Ann Krueger, And over the past 5 years several things have come up missing, I too had Items taken recently who ever it is likes flowers and Solar lights and stepping stones from my Mom. I despise them for doing this to me ~ Those gifts were for my Mom not them. It breaks my heart to go up and notice that something was stolen. I put a
I have contacted the office after every time they stole something. It is getting really bad at the Cemetery. It is hard enough to loose a family member then have to worry about their grave site ~ I hope they catch these creeps.
butterfly solar light up there on a Saturday and by Sunday at noon it was already taken and I put tape on it to keep it down ~ Heck they stole the entire Shepard hook that it was on~ Karma will take care of them. May they burn in HELL ~~~ I do hope & pray they put cameras up there. I am the one that makes all the decorated (milk cans) that I take time to decorate