More than 100 copper plaques have been stolen from a cemetery at Tweed Heads, near the NSW–Queensland border.
The theft was discovered by a groundsman at the Tweed Heads Lawn and General Cemetery on Kirkwood Street yesterday morning.
A Tweed Council spokesperson said the staff were devastated.
“We are appalled at the theft of these plaques and will be working closely with police on the matter,” Tweed Council’s Director of Sustainable Communities and Environment Naomi Searle said.
“My heart goes out to the families of those whose resting places have been affected. Every effort is being made to identify which plaques have been stolen.”
A list of the missing burial plaques will be uploaded to the council’s website.
The council believes the plaques may have been stolen to resell as scrap metal.
The council put the value of the total scrap copper at $1500.
Tweed Council said it could cost the council between $30,000-$40,000 to replace the inscribed memorials.
All local metal recyclers have been notified and placed on alert.
It’s not the first time that copper plaques have been damaged or stolen from the area.
In 2021, 48 copper plaques were stolen from headstones at Murwillumbah Lawn Cemetery at Tree Street, and nine went missing from Tweed Valley Cemetery at Eviron Road.
NSW Police are appealing for information.
Anyone with information about the missing plaques has been urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
