'Despicable' thieves steal tree saplings from Pershore Cemetery - The Evesham Observer

'Despicable' thieves steal tree saplings from Pershore Cemetery

Evesham Editorial 4th Jan, 2017   0

CALLOUS thieves who stole Yew Tree saplings recently planted by volunteers at Pershore’s cemetery have been branded as ‘despicable’ by a leading town councillor.

Coun Chris Parsons, Chairman of the Cemetery Committee, also told the Observer he didn’t know how anyone could ‘stoop so low’ after the discovery on Tuesday morning (January 3) the 10 saplings at the entrance to the Defford Road cemetery had been stolen.

Volunteers only planted the saplings just before Christmas as part of the Town Council’s ongoing efforts to maintain and enhance the cemetery.

Following the theft, CCTV is now being installed in the cemetery to help prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.




Speaking to the Observer, Coun Chris Parsons said: “I consider it to be despicable that anyone could stoop so low as to steal plants from a cemetery.

“The Town Council does everything it can to maintain the cemetery to a high standard. Several enhancements have been carried out over the last few years as funds have allowed, including the restoration of the chapel, the gates and the replacement of the railings as well as the new car park.


“Over the past years visitors to the cemetery have been appreciative of the work carried out by the Council and when this type of vandalism occurs it can only demoralise all those who have worked hard to make these improvements.

“To prevent a re-occurrence of this event, covert CCTV is being installed and in the meantime if anyone has any information regarding this vandalism please contact West Mercia Police.”

It’s believed the saplings were taken sometime between 10am on Saturday, December 24 and 11am on Tuesday, January 3.

West Mercia Police’s enquiries into the theft are on-going and officers are keen to speak to anyone who saw anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time of the incident.

Anyone who has any information is urged to call police on 101, quoting incident number 0194S of Tuesday, January 3.

Alternatively, information can be passed on anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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