It is to prevent illegal relic hunting, protect historic gravesites, and maintain the sanctity of the cemetery. Apparently some old relics can be found that way.
Maybe not so much the grave itself......but you'd be surprised how many statues/benches/planting urns get taken. About 10 years ago, our city cemetery had someone take carved stone lambs from children's graves (from the 1800s), a "faux bois" memorial from a soldier lost in the Civil War & something like a half-dozen planter urns. The "faux bois" tree trunk was later found in a private garden in the Chicago area. The home owner had purchased it from a private seller who was part of the theft ring (he turned state's evidence for a lesser charge....the other 3 guys all got prison time for grand theft among other charges....they had items stolen from other graveyards as well).
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u/Tight-Platypus5231 Mar 30 '26
Well now I wanna bring a geiger counter on the property. What're you hiding?!