DESPICABLE thieves who stole an estimated 100 bronze memorial plaques worth thousands of pounds during a night-time raid at Barnsley Crematorium have been condemned for preying on grieving families.
The engraved plaques, which are often bought as an alternative to a headstone, act as a memorial for family members to remember their loved ones who have died.
The theft happened after dark last Wednesday night and the hunt is on for those responsible, while every scrap dealer in the town has been visited this week to warn them against accepting the plaques.
It’s thought the thieves gained access to the site after 5pm through a side entrance off a public footpath after the main gates on Doncaster Road were closed, and they then used a screwdriver or a sharp tool to dislodge the plaques.
Inspector Julie Mitchell said: “We were notified of the theft last Friday morning and Barnsley’s six neighbourhood teams were all briefed about what had happened.
“This week we have effectively cut off the supply line the thieves would look to use in the town.
“Officers have been visiting every scrap dealer in Barnsley in order to make the plaques too hot to handle, and they have assured the police they would not take them in if they were approached.
“It’s about appealing to them and hoping their moral compass works as this theft has caused a great deal of upset to the families whose loved ones are remembered by the crematorium plaques.”
It costs families £296 for a 175mm by 67mm plaque, which are fixed onto stone plinths at the site and remain in-situ for a 25-year period before another fee of £170 is paid to extend the lease.
It is estimated the total value of the stolen plaques is almost £30,000, while extra security has been drafted in at the site this week. They have been patrolling after dark to deter any attempts to steal more.
Anthony Devonport, manager of Barnsley Crematorium, told the Chronicle the incident has left staff shocked and upset.
“We’ve been open since 1965 and have never had a problem with the thefts of plaques before so this has come as a big shock to everyone associated with the crematorium,” he said.
“We’ve been astonished by the wave of support we have received.
“The gates were locked as normal on Wednesday night at 5pm but on Thursday we had a few enquiries from families who couldn’t find their plaques on the site.
“Slowly but surely the phone became red hot and we’ve had a constant stream of enquiries this week, so we’ve been providing reassurance to those who have been affected.
“What has happened is disgusting. Many of the plaques have been in place for 20 or so years but some have been fitted by recently-bereaved families.
“It doesn’t matter when the loved one died the thieves have attempted to gain financially from someone’s grief.
“We have about 4,000 plaques so we’ve upped our security and the police are trying to get to the bottom as to who is responsible.”
One family member, who did not wish to be named, said their plaque remembered her mum and dad and had been in place for 14 years.
“I visit the crematorium every Thursday but when I went last week the plaque had gone so I immediately reported it to staff as I noticed other spaces around where ours was fitted,” she said.
“When I looked about I saw that many more were missing you can see the marks on the stone where they’ve used something sharp to get them off.
“It’s very upsetting and you just can’t believe how low some people will go for money.”
The crematorium which is not covered by CCTV has been scoured by officers on the lookout for clues, as has the nearby Trans Pennine Trail, although no evidence has yet been found.
Site owners Barnsley Council say they have contacted families and have pledged to replace any missing plaques free of charge and urged any one wanting further reassurance to get in touch.
Coun Roy Miller, cabinet spokesman, said: “We are working with South Yorkshire Police who are investigating the incident.
“Our teams know which ones have been removed and have been contacting the families to inform them.
“We will be replacing the missing plaques but we ask that if anyone has any information, please contact the police on 101.”
