As world copper prices soar, graveyard thieves raid Northern Rivers cemeteries for plaques

Tweed Shire Council cemetery operator Michael McMaster inspects the theft of plaques from the tops of gravestones. (Supplied: Nikki Todd, Tweed Shire Council)

Grieving families have been left heartbroken after dozens of graves in the Tweed Heads-Murwillumbah area were stripped bare of plaques and flowers.

Almost 60 copper plaques have been stolen from two cemeteries, in what workers say is a "devastating" blow for mourning families.

Thieves have torn away 48 of the plaques from Murwillumbah Lawn Cemetery, and a further nine from the Tweed Valley Cemetery since July.

Authorities are concerned the plaques will be irretrievable, and may have been melted down for cash.

Murwillumbah lawn cemetery where copper plaques have been removed from 48 graves by thieves. (Supplied: Nikki Todd Tweed Shire Council)

Copper prices driving thefts

Acting cemeteries business coordinator Greg Puch said the plaques — which are no longer in production — were 91 per cent copper.

He said he suspected they were stolen to be melted down for cash.

"At the moment, copper's at an all-time high around the world," Mr Puch said.

He said the Tweed Shire Council had agreed to replace the plaques in a one-off demonstration of "goodwill and respect", but it had warned it might take months.

"When we replace them, we won't be replacing them with 91 per cent copper," he said.

"They will also be more secure. The old copper plaques, due to their age, were screwed on, but the new ones will be glued or cemented in place."

He said the oldest stolen plaque dated back to 1973, and the most recent only last year.

Calls for community help

Mr Puch said the pandemic was making it difficult for families to visit regional cemeteries.

He said the council had received dozens of calls from "distressed" families across the state.

"It's a trying time for people to come to the cemetery," he said.

The Murwillumbah Lawn Cemetery has been the target of thieves. (Supplied: Tweed Shire Council)

He said there was no CCTV footage of the thefts, due to the regional location of the cemeteries, but the council would be considering further security options.

He said it was not the first time the sites had been targeted by thieves.

Last year, plants and flowers were stolen from plots at Murwillumbah.

"We thought maybe they'd take a little cutting, but no, they took all of the plants." 

In a statement on its website, the Tweed Shire Council said it was working with police and appealed for witnesses, or anyone with information, to come forward.

Council is requesting families who recognise listed family names to phone the cemeteries department.