CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids man is accused of stealing brass vases from more than 100 gravesites at Cedar Memorial Cemetery.

According to the Linn County Attorney’s Office and Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Buelow, officers pulled over Michael A. Carroll, 40, no permanent address, around 1:07 a.m. July 11 in the area of First Street and First Avenue West for a faulty brake light. Buelow said Carroll was ultimately arrested for providing false identification, violating a no contact order, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, failure to provide proof of financial liability and no driver’s license. He also had two warrants out of Cedar County for child endangerment.

Police said when they took inventory of the contents in the 2001 Chevrolet Suburban Carroll was driving, they discovered 33 vases commonly found on gravesites. The following day, the police department received a report from Cedar Memorial informing them that 118 brass vases had been stolen, dating back to the end of June.

Buelow said the vases were valued at approximately $25,000.

Investigators learned that a majority of the vases had been sold to recycling centers, including 72 to Marion Iron. Buelow said Marion Iron saved the vases and cooperated with police in the investigation.

“They knew something was unusual about this transaction,” Buelow said.

Police ultimately recovered all but 13 of the vases, Buelow said.

Carroll was arrested again on Aug. 10 and faces one count of first-degree theft, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Sounds like someone needs to get beat with a brass vase.

Strange things happen in cemeteries at night.

Like complete beat downs.

I have my grandfather's bronze grave marker here at the house. It was given to me by my cousin who picked it up after a visit revealed a mower had knocked it loose and damaged it.

Beautiful Catholic cemetery here in St. Louis surrounded by the hood today. He didn't want a local taking it to the scrap yard.

The raccoons must have been involved.

quote:

Originally posted by lkdr1989:
Sounds like someone needs to get beat with a brass vase.

Yep. This guy sounds like a real winner.
Stealing from a graveyard, that's just wrong on so many levels.

During the last run up in metal prices the bronze vases and any thing of value not bolted down was being swiped in cemeteries including my grandparents vases

I had a large cemetery on my beat and it had an amazing number of folks skulking around it after dark. When I ran across a skulker, they often told me they were grief stricken and wanted to visit the grave of a recently deceased loved one.
Minor problem: Skulker could not name the deceased or take me to the grave. Since the bone yard was clearly maked as closed after dark, Skulker was cited for trespassing.
Creepy.
I also had a Marianist Seminary on my beat that had a Grotto. Lots of really odd folks in the Grotto after dark. Funny.... very few were Marianists.

The local mortuary here in town which, is the primary mortuary for minorities, used to sell gallon jugs of gold teeth to the pawn shop down the street from his business. Is that even legal? Long time ago I might add.

People steal anything that isn't nailed down, folks buy artificial flowers to put on graves and jackasses steal them, people put a toy on a kids grave, it gets stolen. Me thinks that someone needs a class a ass whipping.

quote:

used to sell gallon jugs of gold teeth to the pawn shop down the street from his business. Is that even legal?

When I worked at a pawn shop in high school the local crematoriums brought in gold teeth once a year. Not a gallon jug full, but still a fair amount.

Slight thread drift. So what would be an appropriate punishment for this excuse of a man were he to be found guilty on all the charges he is facing. I am asking this in all sincerity so please consider this in your responses.

quote:

Originally posted by RaiseHal:
Slight thread drift. So what would be an appropriate punishment for this excuse of a man were he to be found guilty on all the charges he is facing. I am asking this in all sincerity so please consider this in your responses.

quote:

Carroll was arrested again on Aug. 10 and faces one count of first-degree theft, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Sounds like the longer the better for everyone with this guy.

I ask because a person at the dog park and I were having a conversation about just this type of person. She was a feel good liberal and I took a more conservative view.

Her..... well he was just trying to survive, no home, non violent, we should help him get back on his feet with programs not jail, the cost of incarceration would be too much, can't lock up everyone, his situation might not be his fault, needs more social programs....

Me ..... he is a total loser who has repeatedly made horrible choices and proved again and again that he refuses to obey the laws of society. Should lock him up for a long while to protect hard working, law abiding members of society and their property. It would be cheaper to lock him up than to pay the huge costs of all his petty crimes, burglaries, car break ins, shoplifting, car accidents, drugs, diseases and associated costs that go along with the crimes a non employed or employable person does each and every day to survive. Sucks to be him.

Now in reality he might need a little of both, but damn I'm tired of people who think they can do anything with absolutely no consequences.

It's far too common. Seen a couple stories where people catch these idiots with game cameras. My family experienced a similar theft, but it was a LED light up cross that definitely did not blow away. Some of the sorriest people.

quote:

Originally posted by RaiseHal:
Now in reality he might need a little of both, but damn I'm tired of people who think they can do anything with absolutely no consequences.

"Help" is what you look for BEFORE you decide to steal and rob. I will help you find it if I can.

If we catch you AFTER, I haven't the slightest interest in "helping" you. My priority becomes giving society a vacation FROM YOU, for as long as possible.

But I'm cynical and jaded.