On April 6 at around 10:00 a.m., a private camera recorded a woman taking a beautiful, large ornament from someone else’s grave. When the grave’s owners discovered the theft, they were very upset because the ornament had remained on the grave for only one day.
The recording clearly showed a woman approaching the grave, taking the ornament, removing elements from it that she probably considered unnecessary, and leaving with her loot.
Two days later, thanks to footage from a private camera, it was discovered who the woman was. She was identified as a person with an intellectual disability. The owners decided not to take any action against her. It is possible that, unaware of what she is doing, the woman will continue taking ornaments from other graves. Nevertheless, it is difficult to fault the owners for being understanding and empathetic, even though they suffered a loss.
How does the cemetery administrator ensure safety?
We contacted the administrator of the Bolesławiec cemetery, the Municipal Housing Management Company (MZGM), asking how it ensures safety at the cemetery. We asked whether there are cameras at the cemetery belonging to MZGM or the Municipal Police, how many theft reports the administrator receives each month, and whether grave owners inform MZGM about thefts at all.
“Video surveillance operates on the grounds of the municipal cemetery, but it does not cover the entire cemetery area,” said Iwona Plizga, head of the cemetery administration department. “The surveillance footage is made available at the request of the police. The cemetery administration does not keep a register of theft reports. Most people report incidents directly to the relevant services, which have the capabilities and authority to carry out the necessary procedures. After receiving information about a theft, the site administrator informs people that the incident must be reported to the police, as the administrator has no authority to identify, inspect, or detain people suspected of theft,” the department head explained.