Over 100 memorial plaques stolen from crematorium

More than 100 memorial plaques have reportedly been stolen from a crematorium garden in Greater Manchester.

The metal plaques were discovered to be missing from a Bolton crematorium last weekend.

Council staff discovered the plaques had been removed from Overdale crematorium on Monday morning, the Local Democracy Reporting Service has reported.

"This is a disgusting crime and it is difficult to believe anyone could sink to the level of stealing plaques commemorating loved ones from a memorial garden," a council spokesperson said, adding: "Some have been visited regularly for decades, meaning people will be heartbroken to find them missing."

Council officers said that even though the plaques are made of gunmetal - which is very low value compared with brass and other metals - the 114 plaques may have been stolen by someone planning to sell them to scrap metal merchants.

However, tighter rules governing scrap metal dealers make selling the plaques much more difficult, as anyone supplying scrap to a merchant must provide photo ID and a bank account because payment in cash is illegal.

"The council is working with the police to identify those responsible and anyone who believes their loved one's memorial has been stolen is encouraged to get in touch to discuss a replacement," the council spokesperson added.

This comes after similar incident in July 2024, when more than 800 similar memorial plaques were stolen from the gardens overnight.

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