Heartless thieves are targeting flowers on graves

Crime is trickling in at the Greenhills cemetery, where thieves are said to be stealing flowers from the graves, with the aim of reselling them.

This is according to Mohlakeng resident and graveyard cleaner Wilson Mvambo who said the criminal activities were getting out of hand.

Also read: Disrespect for cemetery continues …

Speaking to the Herald at his place of work, Mvambo said the flower theft had been happening for the past three years but became worse of late.

“Every week I’m faced with an incident were flowers have been plucked from people’s graves and it really is frustrating. In one case I planted some flowers on September 2 and by September 4 one of the plants had already been stolen.

These thugs are consistent in their thieving ways and that’s because they get easy access into the cemetery through the damaged boundary wall.”

He added that he suspected that the flowers were being resold.

The Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) had been contacted and came out to take measurements of the wall to secure the correct material for repairs.

Asked whether he had reported the incidents to the police, Mvambo said he had not because he did not have any faith in the police system, but was committed to going that route should another incident occur.

He called on local residents and businesses to help so that a security guard could be stationed at the cemetery to curb criminal activity at what is supposed to be a last resting place.

Also read: Public maintaining cemeteries constitutes trespassing – Municipality