Stealing from the dead: Sagana residents raise alarm over rising theft of memorial crosses from gravesites

According to Teressiah Makkal, a nun residing in the affected area, almost 30 memorial crosses have been stolen within a short period of time.

“Theft of crosses has been on the rise. It had stopped but criminals have resumed the theft,” she said.

Makkal said that in addition to the crosses stolen at grave sites, another 32 which were reserved and yet to be put at gravesites, were stolen from a store.

She warned the thieves to desist from further criminal activities, saying, “This is very bad behaviour. People should respect the dead and their graves. Those taking the crosses for sale as scrap metal should know they will not make any significant money from them. The money gotten is not enough to live on so don’t bother.”

Fredrick Kabue, another resident, said, “It is shocking how daring the thieves are to steal from gravesites, yet those a places to be respected.”

He said congregants usually convene to pray for the departed, but with memorial crosses which have details of the departed stolen, it is hard to know whom they are praying for.

Kabue went on to warn the thieves that they are attracting curses on themselves because stealing from the dead is taboo.