Sick thefts at graves
Security is to be tightened at crematoria around the Dudley area following a spate of thefts from children's graves which have left parents heartbroken.
Officials from Dudley Council's bereavement services have confirmed that the number of sick thefts from crematoria in the region have been increasing recently.
Many of the graves have been those of young children, with presents left there as memorials by their parents either taken or damaged.
Bosses from the council are now looking at plans to install CCTV cameras at all of its sites.
Under current plans the cameras would be placed at the entrance and exit to the crematoria.
Police officers have also agreed to step up patrols around the sites.
Victim Mick Parker, of Bissell Way, Amblecote, lost his son to cot death 14 years ago and said it was devastating someone would take or damage remembrance gifts.
He said: "We left some Winnie the Pooh toys at our son's grave and came back to find they had been taken.
"It is the second time this has happened and speaking to other families it seems we are not the only ones it has happened to. It is very distressing and something has to be done about it."
Other graves in Stourbridge Crematorium have also been targeted by the thieves.
A spokesman for the bereavement services today said there had been problems with items being taken from graves and they were working on measures to combat it.
"It has been something we have had a problem with in the past, previously in Gornal, and over the last couple of weeks it seems to have spread to Stourbridge," he said.
"We are not just sitting here doing nothing, it is a concern and we are speaking to the police about ways we can deal with this. We are considering the possibility of CCTV and the best way to use it effectively."
