tombstone tracking devices to be installed at avalon

From early next year City of Johannesburg authorities will allow the installation of security devices on tombstones, in a bid to curb theft and Avalon Cemetery will be one of the first sites to have the chips installed.

City of Johannesburg representative Alan Buff, who oversees the city’s cemeteries said a deal has been entered into with a private company that will install microchip transmitters into tombstones and promised that the system is designed to detect movement and trigger off sirens.

“As soon as we get notification of illegal activity, we will then be able to immediately locate the area where a tombstone has been moved and we will be able to track it down.

“It’s like your car tracking device, it locates and report where the car is at, that’s how the device works.

Buff said: “An SMS will also be sent to the family of the deceased to notify them of any tampering with the tombstone.

The city’s 36 public cemeteries currently have perimeter sensors and are patrolled by security guards, yet on average between 15 and 20 marble or granite tombstones are stolen a month.

Along with the new technology, it will also be possible for families to take out insurance against theft and vandalism of tombstones.