Cairns cemetery theft: Alleged trinket stealer arrested by police

Crime in Cairns has hit a staggering new low if allegations about a woman’s cemetery stealing spree are to be believed.

CRIME in Cairns has hit a staggering new low if allegations about a Kuranda woman’s trinket-stealing cemetery spree are to be believed.

Officers from the Property Crime Unit have charged a 48-year-old Kuranda woman following investigations into the alleged theft of statues from the Cairns Cemetery at Manunda.

Police were notified of the alleged crime after a mother noticed a statue missing from her son’s grave.

The mother then allegedly saw the statue advertised for sale on a local social media marketplace.

Inquiries with caretakers at the cemetery revealed several other statues were also missing from graves.

Police executed a search warrant at an Anderson Rd home in Woree on Friday, September 17 where they allegedly found the statue from the son’s grave along with other suspected stolen statues, marijuana plants and drug utensils.

Gravestone of Major General George Alan Vasey at the Cairns War Graves Cemetery in Manunda. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

The woman was charged with three counts of stealing, and one count each of producing dangerous drugs and possession of drug utensils.

She was issued with a notice to appear at the Cairns Magistrates Court on October 18.

Police are now seeking to identify the owners of the recovered statues and urge anyone with information to contact Policelink and quote reference QP2101734356.

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Originally published as Cairns cemetery theft: Alleged trinket stealer arrested by police