The boy, who was not even seven months old, died more than 50 years ago, but the family continued to take care of his grave. They quickly noticed that someone had stolen the tombstone. As the police later determined, the perpetrator had tried to sell it online. Officers arrested the 37-year-old suspect. He faces eight years in prison.
Police arrested a 37-year-old on Wednesday on suspicion of theft and desecrating a burial site. During questioning, the man confessed.
The theft was reported on September 20 by a 77-year-old resident of Kościerzyna County (Pomeranian Voivodeship). “She informed us that a tombstone had been stolen from a grave in Wąglikowice,” says Senior Sergeant Piotr Kwidziński, press officer of the Kościerzyna County Police Headquarters.
The value of the tombstone was estimated at around 2.5 thousand złoty. Officers conducted an inspection and questioned witnesses.
– During the investigation, the police found an advertisement for the sale of this tombstone with elements – added Kwidzyński.
Tombstone stolen from cemetery in Wąglikowice (video without sound)25.09| Pomerania.TVN24
Man faces eight years in prison
On Tuesday, the tombstone was found two kilometers from the cemetery, toward the town of Juszki. It was hidden in the forest under a layer of moss.
The next day, police arrested the 37-year-old suspect.
– He was taken to police custody, and proceedings are currently underway against him. For this crime, desecrating a burial site, he faces up to eight years in prison – added the press officer.
The grave belongs to a boy who was born on April 30, 1972, and died on November 13 of the same year. As Kwidzyński adds, although the infant died 52 years ago, the family continued to take care of the burial site. The stolen slab was returned to its owner.
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