A grieving Tasmanian family has been left distressed after memorial lights were taken from their four-year-old son’s grave at a cemetery at Spreyton in the state’s north-west.
Lauren Barrett shared her heartbreak on social media, appealing for the return of the lights that disappeared this week.
“I’m hoping someone will have a heart and return my four-year-old son’s lights to his grave,” Barrett wrote, noting her family is “still grieving” after losing their son in June.
Community members responded with outrage to the post, with one resident claiming the problem has persisted for years.
“I lived on the corner of Durkins and Racecourse road for 15 years up to 2003. Weekly I saw people steal flowers from one grave and place them on another,” wrote one long-time local.
The incident appears not to be isolated, with another community member sharing a similar experience.
“We had some Hot Wheels cars around a family member’s spot found them on someone else’s a few spots over.”
Grave decorations, flowers and mementos frequently disappear from final resting places.
“Some people always have to ruin everything. People can’t even grieve and leave something nice for their loved ones without someone stealing them,” wrote one frustrated commenter.
“Whether it’s flowers, lights, or any item in general, there’s no need to take what isn’t yours, especially from someone’s final resting place. It’s so disrespectful and absolutely disgusting behaviour.”
The family are yet to track down the missing lights.
