Astwood Cemetery - get CCTV and 'cement' in ornaments to stop thieves

Craig Cook has organised a petition for cameras to be installed at all entrances and exits to Astwood Cemetery in Worcester after his family twice fell victim to graveside thieves.

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Worcester City Council has confirmed they are looking at what they can do to reduce the thefts - but have yet to announce any firm proposals.

The latest theft came just three months after Mr Cook's beloved mum's death. Mr Cook, 44, was his mum's primary carer and there is a Facebook group - Things Stolen from Astwood Cemetery - to raise awareness of similar thefts and provide support and advice.

STOLEN: Lions stolen from the graves of Craig Cook's mum and dad (Image: Craig Cook)

A petition for CCTV cameras, set up by Mr Cook, has attracted 337 online signatures and a further 140 on paper.

The incidents have been branded 'heartless' and a 'violation' by Warndon's Labour councillor, Jill Desayrah who has been in talks with cemetery managers to find a solution.

Cllr Desayrah has suggested a service which would allow ornaments to be 'cemented in' to prevent thefts and potentially be marked with SmartWater to make stolen items easier to recover and identify.

Mr Cook of Saddlers Walk, who only lost his mum in July and laid her to rest in August, wants action taken not only on behalf of his own family but for all those affected by the thefts.

Mr Cook was devastated to find two ornamental, stone grey lions were stolen from his mother and father's graves in Astwood Cemetery on Saturday, October 22.

We also reported in 2017 how Mr Cook had mementoes stolen from his father's grave in the same cemetery, including a statue of a Yorkshire terrier engraved with his name which had sentimental value.

It had lain on the grave of Neville Cook for a decade undisturbed before it was taken.

Mr Cook still believes CCTV is the best solution.

"If there's CCTV it's going to be more of a deterrent and make it safer for people to come and visit. There has also been bag snatches and cars broken into at the cemetery. This sort of thing should not be happening," he said.

He said a thief would wait until the police car left and then 'carry on doing what they're doing', meaning patrols would not be as effective as CCTV.

Mr Cook said those who steal items from graves 'need to be punished.' He described cemetery staff as being 'very supportive.'

Cllr Desayrah, city councillor for Warndon, said: “These violations of the graves of loved ones at Astwood are heartless. To be honest, they beggar belief, everyone who hears of them is shocked. But the sympathetic response from the cemetery management has been comforting to some of those affected. They are listening and their careful consideration of what can best be done is much appreciated."

The petition, which is still taking signatures, reads: "Too many incidents have occurred. People should be able to feel safe and be able to leave items for lost loved ones. We should be allowed to grieve and not worry that our tokens of remembrance are being stolen or our cars are being broken into while we are mourning at our loved one's graveside."

A spokesperson for Worcester City Council said: “It is a distressing and upsetting experience for people if memorial items are taken from their loved ones’ graves. We are liaising with the police and looking at what we can do to try and reduce the number of such incidents.”