Two Spokane cemeteries have lost as much as $25,000 worth of brass flower pots and urns to a thief in the past few weeks.
During the weekend of July 24 a suspect or suspects stole 50 14-by-18-inch bronze flowerpots from Spokane Memorial Gardens at 5909 South Cheney-Spokane Road. The theft occurred between 5 p.m. the 24th and 8 a.m. July 27. A cemetery employee placed the loss at $9,000.
Then, between 4 p.m. Aug. 6 and 8 a.m. Aug. 9 someone stole 270 6-inch bronze vases from the niches and crypts areas of Greenwood Memorial Terrace at 211 North Government Way. A representative there said the loss would be at least $15,000 and could be substantially higher depending on the cost to ship replacements.
In both thefts, a vehicle would have been required to haul away the bronze items due to their weight. Investigators believe the items were stolen to be sold as scrap metal.
Spokane County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Dave Reagan said a few tips have come in but no arrests have been made in the case, which is still an active investigation. “This is the type of crime – stealing from cemeteries – we consider a quality of life issue in Spokane County,” he said.
Reagan said anyone with information about either theft should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, or at 327-5111. Tipsters do not have to give their name to collect the cash fugitive reward.
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