WSFA 12 News Montgomery, AL |Only on 12: Copper Thieves Strike Second Montgomery Cemetery

Only on 12: Copper Thieves Strike Second Montgomery Cemetery

Thieves - who police say are addicted to street drugs - have victimized another 50 or so families in Montgomery tonight.

For the second time in just a few days, robbers have struck a Montgomery graveyard looking for copper.

But now, the graveyards operators are striking back.   They're using the power of information and words to stop the thieves cold.  

Administrator Gerri Taylor says her job is far more than just managing Montgomery Memorial Cemetery. To her, this is a sacred trust. The thefts have angered her.

"They're graverobbing. They're stealing these off of graves," she said. "That's the part that just really upsets me. They're just desecrating graves."

In just one night, thieves made off with 47 bronze vases and the count could go higher. In spiritual terms putting flowers on a loved one's grave is worth more than just money. But in this world, it costs between 150 and 200 dollars for the vase. So what do drug addicts get for one?

"At the scrapyard, if they find a scrapyard that will take it, they get about 17 dollars per vase," Taylor said.

Taylor says all cemeteries recycle the bronze vases when they're damaged or need replacing, but now, she and other companies are taking action. Anytime they send one away, they're sending a letter along with it.

"We'll call them in advance," she said. "They will know in advance it is legitimate scrap. But if somebody just shows up off the street with 25 or 30 vases, then it's stolen."

Along with police, they're increasing patrols - both formal and informal.

"We're going to ask our neighbors here in the neighborhood. Memorial Heights is a good neighborhood, and we're going to ask them for some help, too," said Taylor.

Police are concerned about copycat thefts and so are the graveyard managers. But police are planning more patrols and as you just heard, so are the memorial managers.

Gerri Taylor says God may have a plan of his own as well. She says black widow spiders like the storage areas where the vases rest when they aren't holding flowers.

She says it's very easy to find a nest of hungry, angry critters if you aren't careful.

Thief, beware.

We also have an update on the Greenwood Memorial theft from two days ago. Police have questioned one person in connection with that theft and are looking for another. But so far,  officers have not charged anyone.

Reporter: Chris Holmes