California

200 bronze vases stolen from graves at cemetery, California cops say. Search is on

The vases had been secured to the graves, deputies said. A memorial bench at the cemetery also was vandalized.
The vases had been secured to the graves, deputies said. A memorial bench at the cemetery also was vandalized. Photo from Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office

Someone stole 200 bronze vases off graves in a San Francisco Bay Area cemetery, California sheriff’s officials reported.

Workers at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette noticed the vases were missing last month, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office said in a Jan. 15 news release.

The vases had been secured to the graves, deputies said. A memorial bench at the cemetery also was vandalized.

The person or people responsible face grand theft charges, deputies said.

An investigation into the thefts continues. Detectives ask anyone with information to call 925-313-2600 or email tips@so.cccounty.us. To leave an anonymous tip, call 866-846-3592.

Lafayette is about a 20-mile drive northeast from San Francisco.

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This story was originally published January 16, 2025 at 7:56 AM with the headline "200 bronze vases stolen from graves at cemetery, California cops say. Search is on."

DS
Don Sweeney
The Sacramento Bee
916-321-1028
Don Sweeney has been a newspaper reporter and editor in California for more than 35 years. He is a service reporter based at The Sacramento Bee.
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