Thieves take vases from soldiers' graves

CROWNSVILLE, Md., June 19 (UPI) -- Authorities in Crownsville, Md., say they are searching for whoever stole 28 bronze vases from dead soldiers' graves.

Officials at the veterans cemetery told police the vases began to vanish in April, WBAL-TV in Baltimore reported Tuesday.

"When they start stealing the vases, they start hurting the families. That's pilferage. All they wanted was money for these because they're not worth anything to anybody unless you cash them in for salvage or something," said Bob Hooper of the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs.

He added there simply aren't enough guards to watch over the cemetery at night and it is not lighted because it is "supposed to be solitude and a place for reverence."

Hooper said the $180 vases will be replaced by the cemetery.

It is likely the vases are being traded for cash as scrap metal, police said.