Local families were horrified to find out that more than two dozen bronze memorial plaques commemorating their loved ones have been stolen from benches at Jean Sweeney Open Space Park.
A City official told KRON 4 News that the thefts took place over a number of days, but the exact dates are not known, nor are the number of suspects. However, a member of the park’s fund board told ABC 7 News that a total of 26 plaques were stolen on the same night.
Many believe that the theft was motivated by the value of the bronze itself. “Evidently, they use the bronze, and they can probably melt it down and sell it,” park board member Dorothy Freeman told ABC. According to the report, bronze has been selling for as high as $3.70 a pound at scrap yards.
“It is a tragedy,” Alameda resident Kevin McKenna told KRON. “I can’t believe somebody would stoop to that level. It is a degradation to those that have died. Families put their time and effort and money into these plaques.”
A City official told KRON, “The City of Alameda is aware of and saddened by the recent thefts. We recognize the emotional value these memorial plaques hold and share the community’s frustration. To prevent future loss, we recommend that donors consider replacing plaques using different materials to deter future theft.”
Park officials are now working with the company that produced most of the original plaques to find creative ways to prevent these thefts in the future. They’re looking for materials that are not so valuable to thieves and for ways to make plaques harder to remove, Freeman told ABC. Some family members said they would like to see lights or cameras installed in the park.
One of the stolen plaques had been placed to honor Erna Brockl. Her family would gather at the bench to “have a set place to remember her and sort of be together like a family again,” her granddaughter, Rachel Brockl, told ABC. But when they saw a hole where the plaque used to be, it was too much.
Then they realized that other plaques had also been stolen. When asked what she would say to the thieves, Bianca Brockl said, “Shame on you. What’s the purpose? Don’t you have any feelings about people that have passed away?”
The Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Fund told ABC it is working to replace all of the stolen plaques free of charge.
