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Brazen thieves: 125-year-old copper door stolen from Zweibrücken cemetery!
Unknown people steal the valuable copper door of a mausoleum in Zweibrücken. Police are looking for information about metal thefts.
Brazen thieves: 125-year-old copper door stolen from Zweibrücken cemetery!
Who says crime always happens on the streets? An ugly incident has occurred in quiet Zweibrücken that is disrupting the peaceful coexistence in the main cemetery. Strangers have stolen a massive copper door from a vacant mausoleum, not only posing a challenge to police but also astonishing citizens. TV Middle Rhine reports that the 125-year-old door weighing 500 to 600 kilograms was torn from the masonry and the damage to the masonry is estimated at around 4,000 euros. The value of the stolen door is around 8,000 euros.
Cemetery employees discovered the theft on Monday, but it remains unclear how far back this brazen act occurred. One can imagine that the loss represents a great burden not only financially but also emotionally for the relatives of those buried there. So it comes as no surprise that the police are now increasingly asking scrap dealers and waste disposal companies for help. Any clue about the stolen door can help uncover this nefarious act.
A problem that is growing
The thefts of metals from cemeteries are increasing not only in Zweibrücken but also elsewhere. Graves are increasingly becoming a target for criminals who are after valuable materials such as copper and bronze. In a recent analysis by zeit.de It is reported that the number of thefts has increased in recent years. For example, 402 thefts were recorded in 2023.
The Board of Directors of the Association of Cemetery Managers expressed concern about this development, as such incidents not only cause material damage, but also affect the feeling of safety and respect in cemeteries. Investigating these crimes is often difficult because the thieves are usually well organized and often act in waves.
An appeal to the community
Citizens should not only be informed, but also take action. We live in a time when neighborly help and attention are more in demand than ever. This could help ensure that our cemeteries, as places of peace and remembrance, do not continue to suffer at the hands of criminals. Suggestions to improve protection include locking gates and installing alarm systems, but they also must not impede public access.
The sad fact that similar incidents have been reported in cities like Emerkingen, Ochsenhausen and Düsseldorf just shows how widespread this problem is. The public is asked to be vigilant and report suspicious activity in order to contribute to a more respectful treatment of our cemeteries.