Located on York Street in Huntingdon, the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Cemetery is the final resting place for the relations for many local families.
The first set of lights went missing in May—but theft has been a problem at the cemetery for some time. “You sort of get desperate—these things have no monetary value,” said one concerned community member. Things that have been taken from the cemetery include memorabilia, solar lights and hockey pucks—items that are worth little to outsiders. The church’s long-time secretary, Francine Lalonde, considers the robberies to be shameful. “I think it’s awful that people are stealing from the cemetery.”
Other serious incidents have occurred as well. On August 29th, intruders made ??off with an angel-shaped statue, which was based on a tombstone. While the value of the stolen item is estimated at a hundred dollars, other statues have gone missing as well, some of which held more sentimental value than monetary.
While the church has asked that police officers patrol the area more frequently, no evidence has been brought to light as of yet. The problem has forced the church to consider the purchase of security cameras as a safety measure. A meeting will be held on September 20th to determine a course of action.
Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the church directly.
