Heartless thieves steal memorial plaques from dozens of graves
It’s a place where tears are supposed to fall in love and grief, but now they’re dropping in shock and fury.
The final markers of mothers, fathers, daughters and sons have been stolen for likely just a miserable $1500 of scrap metal.
It’s a place where tears are supposed to fall in love and grief, but now they’re dropping in shock and fury. A Current Affair
Two weeks ago thieves had a night out at Gordon Williams Memorial Lawn cemetery at Aberdare in the NSW Hunter region and ripped out 45 plaques.
Kevin King's late wife Pauline was one of the first.
“I came out to put some flowers on her grave for her birthday and I couldn't believe when I got here that there was no plaque, no identification,” the 87-year-old said.
“What can I say? I was very disappointed in the world.”
King’s daughter Karen said she hoped the thieves took a good look at themselves.
“Also the people who are in receivership of the brass,” she said.
The heartless thieves left behind cold empty concrete but with replacements unlikely to be ready before Christmas, the community has rallied to heal the wounds with temporary memorials.
“Instead of coming and seeing glue on a slab of concrete, we’ve now got Mum’s name back on where it should be and the memory that we hold dear,” Karen said.
Anthony Musgrove is making each wooden plaque one by one.
“It was mainly just seeing how my nan reacted to it,” Musgrove said.
“It was very difficult for me because she’s always there.”
The situation has shattered families with relatives at the cemetery. A Current Affair
Grandmother Janice, known as the unofficial caretaker of the cemetery, said it has restored her son Tony’s dignity.
She said she would come down “sometimes three times a day” for her grandson.
She also goes around the cemetery and cleans other people’s plaques.
Local business KJC Solutions is putting the plaques in for free, but the replicas won’t replace the anger.
Police are investigating and are appealing for information to help find the thieves.
Meanwhile, with no insurance, resident Debbie isn’t alone in calling for better security at the graveyard and a rethink at every cemetery.
“I think it's going to keep happening,” she said.
“I don’t know how true it is, but a few people have said it’s been happening at places, different cemeteries and plaques at war memorials have been taken as well.”
Cessnock Council has helped negotiate a bulk discount for permanent replacements.
However with the cost up to $55,000 in total shattered families are fundraising in the hope no grieving relative has to pay a single cent.
A bereaved relative has set up a GoFundMe page.
They say the funds will be used to replace 45 memorial plaques stolen from the cemetery.
Statement from Cessnock City Council
Council team members have spoken with affected families following the recent theft of a number of plaques at the Gordon Williams Memorial Lawn Cemetery at Aberdare.
Naturally, we are disappointed that this incident occurred.
It’s a horrible situation for the families, and our sympathies are with each and everyone affected by this heartless act.
The matter is being investigated by NSW Police.
We encourage anyone with any information to contact NSW Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
Council can confirm 44 plaques were stolen from the lawn section of the Gordon Williams Memorial Lawn Cemetery on or around the night of Tuesday 6 October.
We are not in a position to speculate on the motives of the thief or thieves.
The matter is being investigated by NSW Police.
We encourage anyone with any information to contact NSW Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
Individual plaques can range in price between $700 and $2000.
Council is currently liaising with our plaque supplier regarding plaque proofs and quotations, to identify the type and cost of each plaque stolen.
Ownership of the plaques remain with the right of interment holder in perpetuity, typically a family member of the deceased.
This is standard practice at cemeteries across NSW.
Immediately following the incident, Council approached the plaque supplier to see whether they were able to offer a discount for those affected by the theft who were wishing to purchase a replacement plaque given the circumstances.
The supplier confirmed they would be able to offer a 30 per cent discount, which was communicated to those families.
Council has attempted to speak with all affected families, and has sent letters or emails in instances where a contact is no longer current or available.
Immediately following the incident, Council approached the plaque supplier to see whether they were able to offer a discount for those affected by the theft who were wishing to purchase a replacement plaque given the circumstances.
The supplier confirmed they would be able to offer a 30 per cent discount, which was communicated to families.
Council adopts modern design principles across our open space and recreation areas to support crime prevention, including at our cemeteries.
This has contributed to vandalism, theft and/or malicious damage at our cemeteries being incredibly rare.
Indeed, this is the first incident of this kind at cemeteries in the Cessnock LGA in living memory. By their very nature, our open spaces are designed to be open to the community.
Additional security measures would also have to come with significant cost increases for local families.
Council is not in a position to offer financial advice.
Fortunately, vandalism, theft and/or malicious damage at our cemeteries is incredibly rare, with the only other incident in recent years involving the repeated targeting of an individual plot.
Statement from NSW Police
Officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District are investigating after a memorial was damaged inside a cemetery in Aberdare earlier this month.
Police were told over 40 plaques were removed and stolen from the memorial sometime between 5pm (Tuesday 6 October 2026) and 9am(Wednesday 7 October 2026).
The investigation is ongoing.
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