Alleged Beerwah, Peachester cemetery gravestone robbers charged

Police have warned the community with family members buried at Sunshine Coast cemeteries to be wary of brass plaques being stolen from headstones after two hinterland areas were targeted. Read the latest.

A Sunshine Coast cemetery has allegedly been the target of gravestone robbers after several brass plaques were stolen from headstones, with concerns other areas may have been targeted also. Photos: QPS

Police have warned those with family members or loved ones buried at Sunshine Coast cemeteries to watch for brass plaques being stolen from gravestones after two areas were allegedly hit by thieves.

Sunshine Coast Criminal Investigation Branch Officer in Charge Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Mansfield alleged 16 brass plaques were stolen from a Beerwah cemetery on November 1 while another nine were stolen from a Peachester site between then and November 7.

A Sunshine Coast cemetery has allegedly been the target of gravestone robbers after several brass plaques were stolen from headstones, with concerns other areas may have been targeted also. Photos: QPS

Sergeant Mansfield said the names from the plaques were allegedly removed using grinders before they were sold on to second-hand metal dealers who had alerted police.

A 45-year-old Caboolture man and a 38-year-old Peachester man have both been charged with with possessing tainted property, enter premises and commit indictable offence, dishonestly obtain property and fraud after police searched a Peachester home on November 10.

Sunshine Coast CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Mansfield. Photo: Elizabeth Neil

Three grinders were allegedly found and seized at the home.

Both men were remanded in custody and are expected to face Maroochydore Magistrates Court on December 14.

Sergeant Mansfield said there was suggestion that other people may have been involved at this time.

A Sunshine Coast cemetery has allegedly been the target of gravestone robbers after several brass plaques were stolen from headstones, with concerns other areas may have been targeted also. Photos: QPS

He said the names on the stolen plaques had been removed using grinders, which were also used to remove the plaques from the headstones.

There were concerns other cemeteries may have been targeted and Sergeant Mansfield urged the public to report affected sites immediately.

“If they do locate their loved ones grave has been interfered with, (we ask) they contact police and also the associated cemeteries,” he said.

A Sunshine Coast cemetery has allegedly been the target of gravestone robbers after several brass plaques were stolen from headstones, with concerns other areas may have been targeted also. Photos: QPS

Sergeant Mansfield said there was a large market for second-hand metals, but the brass plaques themselves were expensive with some costing about $1000.

Police are now appealing to the public to help identify the stolen plaques and where they were taken from.

Outstanding stolen plaques or similar incidents are encouraged to be reported to police or to local cemeteries.