'Who steals from the dead?': Vases stolen from graves in Milwaukee

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A family is disturbed and disheartened after multiple of their beloved family members' graves were stolen from at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Milwaukee.

"Who does this?" said Katie Whitlock. "Who steals from the dead?"

Whitlock frequently visits her family's graves, keeping their memory alive.

"It's just very peaceful, soothing to be here," said Whitlock. "To know that I'm still here with them."

Bringing flowers to her mother's grave Tuesday, she discovered five of her six family members' bronze vases were stolen.

"The heartbreak is just indescribable," said Whitlock.

Whitlock says she's uneasy that those she loves dearly had their final resting place disturbed, spoiling her special moment with her mom.

"When I drive up here, I don’t want them to be forgotten," said Whitlock. "The flowers on their grave, the wreaths on their grave means that they have not been forgotten."

Christine Toson, the owner of Pinelawn Memorial Park, said another family had a bronze vase stolen last week.

"Taking anything is just completely disrespectful, and we are just really disheartened by it all when it happens," said Toson.

Toson says this isn't the first incident. A few years ago, several hundred vases were stolen, and that person paid the price.

"We know we will get them," said Toson. "We know we will catch them, and we will prosecute without a doubt."