Posted on: Friday, August 6, 2004

Grave thieves go after vases

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Central O'ahu Writer

When Beverly Yamamoto learned that three bronze flower vases at the gravesite of her father and grandparents had been stolen for a second time in three months, she decided not to give thieves another chance.

"Every time we go to the grave, I know I'd be holding my breath wondering if (the vases) were going to be there," Yamamoto said. "So we decided after the second time to replace them with plastic vases and keep the bronze ones at home. When they catch whoever is doing this, I'll bring them back."

Yamamoto's family gravesite is at Mililani Memorial Park at Waipi'o.

Between February and July, there were 24 reported cases involving the theft of 40 bronze vases at the Mililani cemetery, said Lt. Derek Shimatsu of the Pearl City police unit that deals with burglaries and thefts.

The thieves have also been active in Windward O'ahu, where 160 cases have been reported since Aug. 30, according to John McCarthy, the district's acting burglary/theft lieutenant. All but two of the thefts were at Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kane'ohe.

The two cemeteries are the primary targets; none of the six other police districts are investigating similar cases.

Although bronze vases are sold by cemeteries for between $275 and $500, police say they're worth much less as scrap. Investigators have been unable to determine why anyone would want to steal identifiable bronze vases that are easy to trace, especially since they have no high-return value, McCarthy said.

"If you get 30 cents a pound, you're talking maybe $2 a vase," McCarthy said. "It's just not feasible. You can't steal a vase here and there and make any money."

The stolen vases are replaced free of charge by the cemeteries if victims report the theft to police, officials with the cemeteries said.

The police reports are sent to the manufacturer, which then provides a replacement, said Patrick Souza, vice president and director of sales at Mililani Memorial Park & Mortuary.

But replacement vases do not alleviate the anger, disappointment and hurt that people like Yamamoto are feeling today.

For Yamamoto, the sight of three empty holes in the ground where the vases were is unforgettable.

Her family bought the vases last September and the first set was stolen on March 21. The second set was discovered missing on June 20.

"I'm just shocked," she said.

The vase thefts at Mililani have occurred in the same area within the cemetery despite increased security, according to Souza. The area is on a hill with a clear view down but not up, he said.

Thieves stole vases from the Mililani gravesite of Theresa Ann Grilho-Nakota in March and April. The second time, they also took four angel figurines left by Shirley Grilho for her daughter.

"It cuts your heart out," Grilho said, "when you hear your grandchildren say, 'They stole my mother's things again.' It's shameful when you have to steal from the dead."

Lynnette Ayat discovered two of three vases missing at the gravesite of her father, grandmother and uncle when she went to Hawaiian Memorial Park on July 26 to honor her dad on his birthday. The thieves couldn't take all of the vases, she says, because one was stuck in the ground.

"How can you stoop so low as to steal from the dead?" Ayat said. "It's just terrible."

Joanne Chun said two vases from her mother's gravesite at Mililani were stolen two months ago. She also noticed that vases from several other nearby graves were gone.

Chun's main concern is for elderly victims because the process of reporting the theft to get a replacement vase is arduous. She filed the report at the Pearl City station, delivered a copy back to Mililani Mortuary and had to go down seven days later to pick up a copy of the report at the main police station.

"It's a full day of legwork, seven to eight hours," Chun said. "I'm concerned about the older people who don't drive or can't get to town."

Souza said Mililani Mortuary is offering to assist victims with the police reports.

Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.