Police investigating overturned headstones in Membertou
Chief Terry Paul says his community is dismayed by a recent act of vandalism.
Three grave makers were overturned last week at Membertou Memorial Gardens near Sydney.
Upright headstones that mark the dead were knocked off their bases.
“We just don’t understand how someone would do something like that,” said Paul who has been leading the community for more than 30 years.
“It’s just horrifying for most of us and we can’t understand how somebody could do something like that. It’s just senseless. It doesn’t prove anything — other than whoever did this, I feel, needs help.”
Members of the Membertou band expressed concerns about the crime during a council meeting held Tuesday.
Paul said police collected evidence that they hope will catch whoever was responsible.
Members of Cape Breton Regional Police service’s Membertou detachment responded to a call from local residents last Thursday, although there is no clear timeline of when the damage occurred.
“We’re looking for any information that anybody might have to help us identify who is responsible,” said police spokeswoman Desiree Vassallo.
“Any crime of this nature is very sensitive. It’s personal, private property, and it’s a memorial for a loved one. I don’t want to speak for those specific families, but I imagine it’s something they would take pretty personally.”
Paul said they gravesites have since been repaired, adding that efforts will be made to better protect the graveyard from similar incidents.
He hopes that the person who committed this crime feels some remorse.
“I hope they really think about what they did and are regrettable about it. We’re going to ensure that we secure the graveyard and ensure that as much as possible that it doesn’t happen again.”
Regional police are continuing their investigation. No charges have been laid at this time.