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A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with over 300 thefts at mausoleums and cemeteries across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), say Halton police.
The two accused now face “dozens of charges” after a lengthy investigation into a series of thefts at cremation niches that contained remains in Oakville, Burlington, Toronto and the Niagara Region, said investigators in a news release.
“The suspects targeted jewelry, decorative cremation urns, keepsakes, and other valuables often stored in [cremation] niches,” according to the news release.
Police said a total of eight locations, including a mausoleum in Oakville and two others in Burlington, were affected by the thefts.
Officers arrested a 45-year-old man and a 31-year-old woman, both of no fixed address, at a Niagara Falls motel on Nov. 7.
A search of the motel and a vehicle led to the recovery of thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and stolen items, said police. But investigators say many valuables may already have been sold and that some families may still be unaware if their mausoleum niche was robbed.
Halton police said at a news conference Monday that eight cemeteries located in Oakville, Burlington, Toronto and the Niagara region were impacted. (Halton Regional Police Service)
Police say the man is facing 28 charges, including three counts of indignity to a dead body and 19 counts of theft under $5,000. The woman is facing 25 charges, including 19 counts of theft under $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime.
Police say they’re anticipating additional charges as investigators examine the recovered property and identify other victims. The man and woman remain in custody pending a bail hearing in Milton.
The pair are Canadian citizens who were known to police and “were out on release for theft charges,” said Deputy Chief Roger Wilkie at a news conference Monday.
“These crimes are deeply disturbing and strike at the heart of our community’s sense of dignity and compassion,” said Wilkie in a statement.
“To violate spaces meant for remembrance and peace is both callous and reprehensible. Our thoughts are with the families who have been impacted by these thefts.”
Over 600 items that were recovered from the mausoleum thefts were displayed on a table at the Halton Regional Police news conference on Monday. (Halton Regional Police Service)
Wilkie said at the conference that the duo allegedly went to “extreme lengths” to pose as grieving family members to tour mausoleums and deceive property managers before the thefts.
The thefts, he said, took place primarily during the day and used tools that unlocked niches with minimal damage, which made detection difficult.
Stolen items were then sold at pawnshops or in private sales, according to the news release.
The missing valuables included necklaces and “other jewelry that contained human remains, which were discarded by the thieves after the thefts,” police said in the news release.
Wilkie said the pair is accused of dumping ashes, which he called a “reprehensible” and “immoral act.”
“I was outraged. You stole from the dead. What kind of person does that?” said Wilkie quoting a family who had heirlooms stolen from a niche.
Investigators say many stolen items have already been melted down or sold. Any recovered items will be catalogued and returned to the affected families, they said.
Police say the two accused may face additional charges as investigators continue to identify other victims. (CBC)
But there may be additional victims who have not yet realized a theft has occurred at their mausoleum niche, said police.
Anyone who believes items have been stolen from their niche in recent months is urged to contact investigators with the following information:
- Name of the deceased person(s).
- Details and descriptions of the stolen items, including any available photos.
- Location and approximate timeframe of the theft.
People with any other information regarding the investigation can contact the Halton police or reach out anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
Scott Lockwood, general manager of Arbor Memorial Inc. — the company that owns two of the affected Halton cemeteries — said in an emailed statement that he could not provide any details or comments on the case.
However, Lockwood did confirm that multiple niche thefts occurred at the locations and that the company was in close contact with Halton police.
“We want the affected families to know that we share in their sorrow. We understand these are not simply items, but cherished memories,” said Lockwood.
“We encourage families with niches at any of our locations to contact their local funeral home to arrange a guided niche inspection, where they can remove any valuable items at their discretion.”
Mark Richardson, president of the Ontario Association of Cemetery and Funeral Professionals, said the organization would work with law enforcement and the provincial regulator to ensure “places of remembrance remain safe, secure and dignified.”