A FAMILY is furious as thieves repeatedly target their nan and grandad’s grave, stealing flower holders for the third time in just 18 months. 

Kimberley Webb, who has a grave at Basildon and District Crematorium for her grandparents, says her family have continuously had to replace items which have been left at the site on Church Road, Bowers Gifford.

Both vases and flower holders placed in their honour have been discovered stolen each time loved ones have visited in the past year and a half, causing upset for both Kimberley and her family.

The 42-year-old from Pitsea said: “Most recently my mum, Janet, went up there. The tops of the flower holders were missing, they’re the round bits of metal with holes in where you can put flowers in. The vase was also missing too. 

“This is the second vase and the third set of holders that fit into the bottom of the gravestone in about 18 months that has been stolen.

“Although they are inexpensive, I can’t think of anything more disrespectful than taking items off graves. 

“Anywhere else, of course it’s still not great, but from a grave? It’s so infuriating.”

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After sharing her experience on social media, Ms Webb fears other families have also been affected.

She continued: “I’d say we go there every three to six months, but there’s always something missing. Mum especially goes there quite often, and was actually the one who picked up on it. It is quite upsetting for her to go through.

“It doesn’t sound like this is happening to just us. I posted about this on social media and someone said they had the metal chipped off their loved one’s gravestone, it’s just awful.

“Nan died about seven years ago and grandad before that. A lot of people do go on a weekly basis to the resting place of their loved ones.

“To those that are doing this to families, I’d like to ask how would they feel if someone defaced or stole from their loved one’s grave? I’m sure they wouldn’t like it either.”

Peter Hayden, site manager of Basildon and District Crematorium, said: “We are very disappointed and sorry to hear about items being taken from a grave on our site.

"We can only imagine the upset that this causes to family and friends of lost loved ones.

“We would encourage anyone in a similar situation to reach out for support and report the incident to us and to the police.

"We would implore people to be more respectful for the final resting places of lost loved ones and to show some basic human consideration for their families and friends.”