Thieves Target Stockton Rural Cemetery

STOCKTON (CBS13) - Their greed has taken to the grave as thieves have been stealing from one of the most sacred spots in Stockton.

Eternal plans of peace shattered as the final resting place for many families turn to targets.

The Stockton Rural Cemetery grounds hold graves more than a century old.

"When you come here and something's damaged, it goes deep, feelings run deep," office manager Debra Bobian said.

The Barnhart family vault is now door-less after the 300-pound iron gate was removed.

"I went to a copper recycling center today to kinda thumb through and see if I see anything there," manager Sanchez said.

As we strolled through the cemetery Monday, Sanchez found a mess metal thieves carelessly left behind.

The mausoleum of Benjamin Holt was also tarnished. The well-known inventor of Caterpillar tractors has his name on Stockton city streets and stadiums. But clearly the culprits couldn't care less.

They couldn't take off with the Holt family's door but they made off with another one, leaving the gateway to the Hyatt family coffins wide open.

"This happened last night," Sanchez said.

Crime is not entirely unheard of here. In the past people have stolen vases, even flowers. But now with these gates gone, cemetery workers wonder how anyone could stoop so low.

"We have families that come generation to generation and that's like desecrating a grave," Bobian said. "You know who you are. You're hurting families."

To prevent any more tampering of tombstones, the manager says he'll have security patrolling at night.