Despicable theft fromcemetery (From Penarth Times)

Despicable theft fromcemetery

A GRIEVING family have voiced their anger at "despicable" thieves who they say stole a floral wreath from their father's grave at Penarth Cemetery.

Lorraine Groves, of Dinas Powys, said: "My father passed away just over a year ago.

"As a family we are still trying to come to terms with his loss as a husband, father and a grandfather.

"We regularly visit Penarth Cemetery where Dad's ashes were interred, taking flowers and plants to keep his memorial stone and plot in good order.

"You can imagine our horror to find that someone had seen fit to steal from his plot.

"We had placed a door wreath at the grave, but on our last visit we found that it had vanished," said Mrs Groves.

"We know there is no way it could have blown away because of its weight and because it was fixed into a felt base we had fitted there.

"This episode has caused tremendous upset and hurt for the whole family - my mother was particularly upset. We just can't understand how anyone could do this.

"It really does beggar belief why anyone would want to steal a wreath of flowers from someone's grave.

"It's a despicable thing to do and shows such a complete lack of respect."

A spokesperson for Penarth Town Council said: "We are shocked to think that something like this could have happened at Penarth Cemetery.

"In our upkeep of the cemetery grounds, our policy is not to remove flowers or wreaths from graves until they are seen to have decomposed and are well past their prime.

"The removal of wreaths is generally left to the families.