INDIANAPOLIS — IMPD is asking for help catching thieves who stole more than 100 vases from a southeast side cemetery.
The theft leaves families with a cost of hundreds of dollars to replace.
"I didn't cry, but it almost brought me to tears," one man told 13News.
The man did not wish to be identified. He says he was one of the many victims to a theft at New Crown Cemetery.
"I can't believe that someone would actually do this," he said.
An IMPD police report shows on Feb. 29, 150 bronze vases were stolen off headstones of graves at the cemetery.
The man told 13News he had three vases stolen.
"One off my older brother's grave, the other one off my younger brother's grave and my mother," he said.
The police report estimates those vases were worth $80,000.
The man 13News spoke with says the cemetery estimates each vase will cost around $700 dollars and it's up to him and other families to pay.
"I'm on a fixed income, so that's going to be hard for me to make and I got three of them to replace, you're talking about $2,100," he said.
13News stopped by the cemetery office Wednesday to ask about the thefts. They issued a statement that read:
"Unfortunately, the theft of bronze vases is an issue at cemeteries across North America. It saddens us that thieves are preying on cemeteries and gravesites to commit these crimes. We take safety and security very seriously and routinely evaluate the security needs of the cemetery; however, cemeteries, by their nature, are open to the public. We hope that area scrap metal dealers will continue to be watchful for people selling bronze vases from cemetery property and will contact local law enforcement to report any suspicious activity."
In the meantime, this man hopes whoever committed the crime is caught and that he's not stuck with the bill.
"Probably going to have to go into my retirement money to replace them, so I'm just waiting on the funeral home to tell me what they're going to do," he said.
IMPD said several vases were found and returned to the cemetery but no arrests have been made in the case.
Anyone with information is asked to contact IMPD or Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-TIPS (8477).