Metal thieves ransack Veterans' Cemetery, steal metal rods off graves

[Juliuscaesar]

ABINGTON (CBS) – Police are looking for some vandals who stole metal rods from a veterans’ cemetery, most likely for cash.

The thieves took at least 18 markers made of copper, bronze and brass from the graves of war heroes at Mount Vernon Cemetery.

Cemetery superintendent John Burnett said the staff that holds the marker together with the American flag is what the grave robbers are looking to fence, not the medallions that come with them.

“What they do, they leave the medallion on the ground because they can’t turn them in because scrap metal people won’t take them because it’s a veteran marker,” Burnett said.

“It just bothers the hell out of me and all the veterans,” the town’s Director of Veteran Services Joe Colantoni told WBZ-TV.

“These guys left the town of Abington, went to fight for this country, get killed, get their remains home, this is their last remaining place and to have somebody come to do what they did is wrong, wrong, wrong.”

http://boston.cbslocal.com/2011/07/19/metal-markers-stolen-from-abington-veterans’-graves/

 

[Atar554]

Why not check the scrap yards they have to take it to for cash?

Until they stop scrap yards from accepting things like that or worse (siding, street light poles, copper pipes etc...) they'll keep doing it.

 

[bustybbwlover]

they (and by 'they' i mean tweakers) keep doing it to schools around these parts

 

[Petra]

The other day the train between where we live and Amsterdam was shut down because theives stole copper from the switches for scrap. ;-\

However, I think desecrating a grave is pretty low.

 

[Ulysses31]

Happening in London too, taking drain/manhole covers and some kid could easily not notice and fall right through

 

[smoknn]

i hope they got it on video...our courts are turning stone cold killers alose because no video no evidence???? things like this moves past crime 2 me...when they find out who done this i say drag them behind horses. the hearts of these vets family must be broke...again...God help us all we are (rollin down hill like a snowball headed for hell) some say the end may be in 2012...tmo..man will have it destroyed by 2012...you do the math

 

[L3ggy]

This is sad.

 

[RangerDick]

If they ever steal the Veteran's Plaque from my Father's grave, they had better pray to God the police catch them before I do.

 

[mrtrebus]

Watch out for angry war veteran ghosts!

 

[Facetious]

Why not check the scrap yards they have to take it to for cash?

As a result of budgetary cuts, the resources available for policing metal scrap yards seems to be at a minimum these days... heck, up in San Jose, Ca. the city just laid off 66 of their full time law enforcement officers... all during a time when the cops are most needed!
Looky here:
2010 total number of homicides in San Jose -> 20
2011 total number of homicides in San Jose thus far into the month of July -> 29

What a time to be laying off a chunk of the police force, eh?

Until they stop scrap yards from accepting things like that or worse (siding, street light poles, copper pipes etc...) they'll keep doing it.

I agree completely.
Rumor has it , much of the recycling industry is run by seedy outlaw types... so... :dunno:

Aside: credit the emerging nations for putting a strain on the copper markets worldwide.

 

[feller469]

I say it is time to start executing mother fuckers for their heinous crimes. Unless we act drastically, this behavior will continue.

 

[mrtrebus]

I say it is time to start executing mother fuckers for their heinous crimes. Unless we act drastically, this behavior will continue.

Execute people for stealing metal off of graves?!?

 

[D-rock]

That's has to be down there pretty low on the list of things people can do.

Why not check the scrap yards they have to take it to for cash?

Until they stop scrap yards from accepting things like that or worse (siding, street light poles, copper pipes etc...) they'll keep doing it.

Ummm...okay I can see them not excepting street light poles. There are very few reasons why somebody that isn't with the local government should be having those, but the other things are just to impractical to ban since people legitimately and legally bring pipes and siding in for scrap all the time.