Current Grave Robbing - Footscray

[Kurve]

"It appears the human remains were the focus of the offender, and that's what we've been focusing on," Acting Inspector Jarman said. In two separate incidents!

Coffins have been desecrated and human remains have been stolen from a cemetery in Melbourne's inner west in two disturbing incidents that police believe are linked.

In both thefts, occurring about four days apart, partial human remains were removed from coffins in apparent deliberate and targeted crimes.

The two grave robberies took place on either Thursday night or Friday morning, and on Monday night or Tuesday morning.

The tomb raiders broke into the mausoleum-style grave sites, removed the coffins and accessed the remains.

Coffins desecrated, human remains stolen from two grave sites in Melbourne

Police say it appears the human remains were the target in both instances, with substantial damage left behind at the grave sites after the disturbing crimes.

www.abc.net.au

https://www.police.vic.gov.au/appeal-information-after-grave-sites-damaged-footscray-cemetery?fbclid=IwAR3Oj1unrhRfVu0AJF3-hBcol10aXaqsfxCEznvO_uKwRMDc-bsKrQWNd-0

 

[JackNah_8]

What a disturbing situation. I was shocked when I heard the news today

 

[jason_recliner]

Any ideas as to what people stealing remains might intend to do with the remains? I just can't comprehend this.

 

[Kurve]

Any ideas as to what people stealing remains might intend to do with the remains? I just can't comprehend this.

Maybe it's someone who wants a skeleton for educational purposes and can't afford one ... I hope it's not for black magic stuff

WhoDoVoodoo?

 

[Kurve]

What a disturbing situation. I was shocked when I heard the news today

They have no CCTV either, I assumed most cemeteries would be covered. That this person has gone in twice (that they know of) it might not be the last raid.

Shocking stuff.

 

[Kurve]

 

[Kurve]

Speaking to 7 News, Criminologist Xanthe Mallett admitted she was confused at the details of the case, claiming she’d never seen any activity of this kind behind Australia.

“It is interesting, some of the symbols that have been left around these mausoleums appear to be satanic in nature,” Dr Mallett said.

“And I’ve seen that in the UK, but I’ve never seen any satanic cult activity in Australia.

‘Satanic ritual’ involved in grave robbery

New developments have revealed a “satanic ritual” was involved in the macabre cemetery robbery in Melbourne this week.

www.news.com.au

 

[GreyCrow]

Just some dumb campaigners that think having skulls and bones lying around the place makes for cool conversation pieces

 

[insanity]

Human heads???

No words.....

 

[utility]

Human heads???

No words.....

On the upside, better they went for 'used' than 'new'...

 

[insanity]

On the upside, better they went for 'used' than 'new'...

there is that...

 

[footscray1973]

They have no CCTV either, I assumed most cemeteries would be covered. That this person has gone in twice (that they know of) it might not be the last raid.

Shocking stuff.

Having a number of family members buried at Footscray, I do go there occasionally. From memory, I don't think the main entrance has any CCTV at all, but even if it did, someone determined to get in could get over fences elsewhere. Only the Richards St boundary has residential along it, Francis St probably has too much traffic at times and even at odd hours the chance of being observed by a passing vehicle, but the Cemetery Rd boundary wouldn't provide much of an unobserved obstacle.

Also, there are very few plots available, most are held by families, so very few contemporary burials any more. Even when I've been there on a weekend which would be busy at most active cemeteries, Footscray has little traffic.

 

[Kurve]

Having a number of family members buried at Footscray, I do go there occasionally. From memory, I don't think the main entrance has any CCTV at all, but even if it did, someone determined to get in could get over fences elsewhere. Only the Richards St boundary has residential along it, Francis St probably has too much traffic at times and even at odd hours the chance of being observed by a passing vehicle, but the Cemetery Rd boundary wouldn't provide much of an unobserved obstacle.

Also, there are very few plots available, most are held by families, so very few contemporary burials any more. Even when I've been there on a weekend which would be busy at most active cemeteries, Footscray has little traffic.

They should really have it fully covered by CCTV now, especially after this. Williamstown's is heritage listed but Footscray is nearly as old and not. I bet Willy's got CCTV everywhere.

Some of mine are in Footscray and Williamstown but I haven't been over there for a few years. I feel prompted to go for a wander and check in now.

 

[footscray1973]

They should really have it fully covered by CCTV now, especially after this. Williamstown's is heritage listed but Footscray is nearly as old and not. I bet Willy's got CCTV everywhere.

Some of mine are in Footscray and Williamstown but I haven't been over there for a few years. I feel prompted to go for a wander and check in now.

There are some heritage signs at Footscray relating to pioneers buried there, and many old graves (possibly not as old as Willi, but going well back into the late 1800s). Your 7News post indicates CCTV has now been installed, some images appearing online to confirm this:

but as I said earlier, someone who really wants to get in unobserved (esp with the satanic intent alleged) would easily find alternatives to avoid CCTV I suspect.

I was thinking there are not a lot of places to place CCTV without it being obvious. Footscray really only has the buildings at the main entrance, and a few bus-stop shelters along the main path. Otherwise it's trees as elevation points. But they seem to have gone for the visibility factor. Is that enough of a deterrent?

Edit: plus someone taking precautions of say, a dark hoodie covering head and face, probably won't be deterred by a camera that can't identify them anyway.

 

[BomberManU]

An arrest has been made.

 

[Kurve]

An arrest has been made.

That's good. I'm very interested to see who it was.

 

[fortunatecrow]

The Age reports:

"A 40-year-old man has been arrested after two graves were allegedly disturbed and skulls were stolen from a Melbourne cemetery earlier this year.

A police spokeswoman said detectives from the Maribyrnong Crime Investigation Unit arrested a Spotswood man on Friday, two months after partial human remains were allegedly stolen from mausoleums at the Footscray General Cemetery on Geelong Road, between 27 January 27 and February 1.

 

[jason_recliner]

That's good. I'm very interested to see who it was.

Won't be long before they dig up some dirt on him.

 

[insanity]

Won't be long before they dig up some dirt on him.

Pardon the pun.

 

[utility]

Won't be long before they dig up some dirt on him.

Yeah got a feeling he has skeletons in his closet...

 

[MauroFogheri]

Having a number of family members buried at Footscray, I do go there occasionally.

My mother and I would walk through there often in the '90's, basically for something to do on a winters Saturday but also to stumble on familiar names etc - she had spent 40-odd years living in Newport, so reasonably close by. I always remember one group burial - I think mother and three school aged children - Maltese I think, all with the same death date c. 1981. Always wondered what the circumstances were

 

[jason_recliner]

Yeah got a feeling he has skeletons in his closet...

We probably shouldn't be making light of the situation - these are grave charges.

 

[Sqotty from office works]

We probably shouldn't be making light of the situation - these are grave charges.

You're digging a hole you might not get out of.

 

[jason_recliner]

You're digging a hole you might not get out of.

It's ok, he'll be coughin' up a confession any day now.

 

[Sqotty from office works]

It's ok, he'll be coughin' up a confession any day now.

This thread is dying.