THIEVES have desecrated a cemetery by stealing stone from graves.
They dug up slate from about 12 graves and also stole a metal bench in the raid on the cemetery at Green Cliff, Honley.
Parish councillor Peter Searby said: “Nothing is sacred any more.
“We are talking about people’s resting places here. The people who did this are the lowest of the low.
“The stone is used to cover the graves and the bench was bolted to the ground.
“One of the graves that was raided was next to where my parents are.
“If it had been theirs I would have been hunting these people down,” Mr Searby added.
The theft was discovered by a gardener who went to cut the grass.
It is believed to have happened between June 23 and 30.
Mr Searby added: “It is happening all over the place now and people need to be vigilant.
“You might think nothing of it if you see men in yellow tabards – and they could be perfectly innocent.
“But they might not be. Anyone behaving suspiciously should be reported.”
A police spokeswoman said: “We searched the scene and carried out house-to-house inquiries.
“We would appeal to anyone with information to come forward.”
Contact the police on 0845 6060606.
