Bronze vases vanishing from gravesites at historic Maryland cemetery

SUITLAND, Md. (WJLA) — Bronze vases costing up to $1,000 are going missing from graves at Washington National Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland.

Winterlee Ray filed a complaint with thePrince George's County Police Departmentin June after her mother’s bronze vase vanished.

Very upset. I’ve been coming up here since I was 14 years old to put flowers on my father’s grave," said Ray. "It’s a graveyard. These people are dead and there are people pilfering and their graves lots to steal things. It's sad."

This isn’t a first for the cemetery that's been around for 90 years.

In 2010, $500,000 worth of vases were stolen across multiple cemeteries in Maryland, including Washington National. Those stolen vases included ones from Ray's family plots.

The Prince George's County Police Department was able to track down over 1,000 of the stolen vases and make four arrests.

That investigation led to a change in Maryland law. It's now illegal for a scrap metal company to accept bronze vases unless the vase is attached to an authorized letter from a cemetery.

Ray got her family's stolen vases returned 12 years ago. But now she's a victim all over again.

"Why are they stealing the vases?"asked WJLA reporter Scott Taylor.

"Because they are bronze and they can melt them down and get money from them," said Ray.

Pennsylvania-based company StoneMor owns Washington National Cemetery. It wouldn’t answer WJLA's questions on camera but emailed a statement saying the cemetery has fielded complaints claiming vases are stolen when they have actually been "borrowed" by other families.

Here are the answers WJLA received from Stonemor:

How many complaints has Washington National Cemetery received in the past three years about stolen or missing bronze vases?

"WNC has fielded complaints in which vases are stolen when they have actually been "borrowed" by other families within the cemetery and placed on their loved ones' gravesites."

Does Washington National Cemetery only allow bronze vases that it sells to be placed on graves?

"WNC allows granite, bronze, and plastic vases that must be attached to the memorial."

If so, what is the cost of one bronze vase?

"Bronze vases are included in the cost of the bronze memorial."

What security measures are in place at WNC to ensure its customer's bronze vases won’t be stolen over and over again?

"WNC has reached out to local county police requesting police patrol at the location."

What measures will WNC take to clean up the litter that WJLA found on the grounds of WNC?

"Much of the litter is blown from Suitland Road, Park Services staff performs a morning park tour to evaluate the location and remove litter and debris."

Does WNC have any plans to renovate the pond in front of the cemetery?

"The pond is a sewer drop from Suitland Road and has been classified as a Wetland, according to Park Services staff."

Police said three complaints of stolen vases at the cemetery have been filed in the past three years.

Another complaint is garbage all over the grounds. Near the cemetery’s office, WJLA spotted some garbage right across the street. Right now, it has no security gate and no visible surveillance cameras.

StoneMor said Washington National Cemetery consists of over 80 acres, so surveillance cameras will be ineffective. Washington National has requested police patrols.