Thieves are currently causing trouble in cemeteries in the city and district of Munich, targeting metal grave decorations – especially copper, brass and bronze. The Munich police have registered 80 crimes in their area of responsibility since the beginning of the year and assigned them to this series, as they announced on Friday.
Most of the containers stolen were easy to steal, such as lanterns for grave candles, vases or bowls. The thieves also took larger sculptures such as crosses, angels or animal figures. These were sometimes removed by force; fastenings or safety devices were cut through with angle grinders or saws. The police estimate the total damage to be several tens of thousands of euros.
So far, the largest cemeteries affected have been the Waldfriedhof, Westfriedhof, Ostfriedhof and Nordfriedhof, as well as the resting places at Perlacher Forst, said a police spokesman. However, smaller district cemeteries such as those in Nymphenburg, Gräfelfing and Neukeferloh have also been hit by the thieves. Due to the series, the police have increased their patrols in the cemeteries, and the mounted police are also deployed.
The Munich Police Department’s 52 department, which is responsible for this type of property crime, warns against purchasing grave decorations unless the seller can provide proof of ownership or a grave clearance order. After metal dealers pointed out the matter, the police have already been able to confiscate various items. In some cases, officers are still looking for the rightful owners.
In particular, owners of gravestones with large crosses or metal sculptures are asked to visit their graves and check whether the objects in question are still there; if not, they should immediately report the incident to a police station. The public is also asked to report any suspicious observations immediately by calling 089/29100.