Warning to European Cemeteries
The Association of Significant Cemeteries in Europe has become aware of an alarming surge in brazen bronze thefts targeting cemeteries in Belgium. This disturbing trend has affected several cemeteries since July 2024, including those in Antwerp, Hasselt, and Mechelen, where thieves have plundered significant funerary heritage and caused considerable damage to tombstones.
You can see some of the stolen pieces HERE.
Although these thefts are currently concentrated in Flanders, there is a high probability that they could spread across Europe. Evidence suggests the possibility of organized crime activity with international reach, meaning other ASCE-member cemeteries could soon become targets.
Recommended security measures
To safeguard your cemetery and its cultural heritage, we urge all managers to take the following precautions:
- Lock cemeteries after hours to limit unauthorized access.
- Install surveillance cameras to monitor suspicious activity.
- Engage local authorities for regular patrols or contract security services.
- Catalogue important heritage items with detailed descriptions and photographs.
Collaboration request
If your cemetery has experienced similar thefts, we kindly ask for your cooperation. We aim to understand if there are commonalities in the thefts and whether stolen pieces have been recovered. Please share your experiences, specifically:
- Were any stolen items recovered? If so, how?
- Was there a recurrent pattern or method to the thefts?
- What measures were effective in preventing future thefts?
If you have any information or questions, please contact Martijn.VanGroningen@antwerpen.be or admin@significantcemeteries.org.
*Photo attribution: Ad Meskens, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons