BY JASON THOMPSON
In response to a number of complaints to civic cemeteries about stolen flowers, Sudbury Cemetery Services has hired a private security firm to randomly patrol select cemeteries.
As reported by Northern Life last week, several families have become concerned over the escalating problem of expensive floral arrangements disappearing from cemeteries.
?There have been more incidents of theft in the cemeteries, and we just don?t have the cemetery staff to ensure they?re (graves) watched on a regular basis,? said Al Sizer, manager of Cemetery Services. ?It will be done randomly and we will work with the security force to set up random checks and patrols throughout the cemeteries.?
Patrols began July 4 and will continue until at least the Labour Day weekend at which point the program?s merits will be evaluated.
Staff Sgt. Garry Davidson with the Greater Sudbury Police said the police will be complementing Securitas?s efforts with uniformed officers performing increased patrols at civic cemeteries. ?We are now fully aware of the extent of what has been taken and what is involved, and obviously we are quite concerned.?
?We will increase patrols of uniformed officers in the particular zones to see if we can curb this problem.?
Davidson said that on top of flowers being stolen, statues and solar lights have also been reported missing.
