Home Local News Thief targeting graves in Wigan being hunted by police

Thief targeting graves in Wigan being hunted by police

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A thief who has been targeting cemeteries in Wigan is being hunted by police. The first of the thefts took place between 3pm on Saturday 19th March 2016 and midday on Sunday 20th March 2016, when an unknown scoured Wigan Borough Council Cemetery for memorial aluminium pots.

The offender has ransacked a large number of the graves, and has stolen aluminium pots to the value of £4,000.

The second of the thefts occurred between Monday 21st and Thursday 24th March 2016 at Westwood Cemetery, Westwood Lane in Lower Ince. On this occasion the offender has stolen a collection of flower pots from a number of different graves, to the value of £160.

There is currently no description of the offender.

Constable Sean Robinson said ‘We are appealing for any information at all about this reprehensible crime. To steal from graves is sacrilege, it is an act which dishonours the memory of those who have passed away and causes enormous emotional distress to their families and loved ones.

‘I daresay that someone visiting the cemeteries may have seen someone collecting these pots from graves, and may be able to assist us with a description of the offender. Similarly, it is likely these stolen items would have been taken to a scrap dealer, so I would like to appeal to any such dealers in the area to keep an eye out and report any such items to police.

‘Lastly, I would like the offender to search their own conscience. Imagine it was your loved one’s grave which had been ransacked, how you would feel? Do the right thing and return the stolen items to the families of those people whose graves you have desecrated.’

Anybody who has got any information has been asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident number 290316/1044 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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