Widow distraught as flowers stolen from grave at Market Drayton cemetery
A family has been left distraught after flowers were stolen from the grave of a loved one in Market Drayton.
Ellen Toogood says vandals have targeted the grave of her husband, Hezekiah at least three times in the past 12 months. The 55-year-old, who says it has left her and her family feeling angry and ill, has now called for CCTV cameras to be installed in the cemetery.
The mother-of-two said: "It first happened about 12 months ago. At the time I just thought someone must want some flowers to put on someone else's grave. It was annoying but I left it at that.
"But since then it has happened about three or four times. My son put some big red plants on there for Father's Day, someone else put something that stuck in the ground which had brother on it. They took them both. Not long ago I put some lemon roses on there and they were also taken. I opened the door of the car and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw they had gone.
"Then my son rang me on Tuesday to say all the flowers we had put down the last time had gone."
Mr Toogood died of a heart attack aged 54 in January 2012.
His wife, who lives in Tunstall in Staffordshire, added: "All our family, including my husband's mum and dad, are buried there. The whole thing has made me badly ill.
"I am worried the grave is being watched and it is happening at night.
"I am scared someone will break the stone on there and I just haven't got the money to replace it. I have got some more flowers to put on for Christmas but am scared they will be taken again. I have informed the police and will be telling the town council. I think they need to put a camera up to try to catch these people."
Councillor Roy Aldcroft, mayor of Market Drayton, said he wasn't aware of any problems regarding the theft of flowers on graves in the cemetery. Julie Jones, town council clerk, said it was unlikely cameras would be put up in the cemetery in the immediate future due to the "sensitive nature" of the area. She added she would look into the incident.
West Mercia Police have appealed for anyone with any information to call police on 101.
