Gravestone robbers strike back

AN Empangeni family has been left shocked and disheartened after brass ornaments from a family member’s gravestone were stolen over the last two weeks.

The de Ponte family laid their beloved husband and father Marcelino de Ponte to rest 16 years ago at the Empangeni cemetery.

‘We visit every Saturday, but over the last two weeks noticed more and more ornaments have been disappearing from the gravestone,’ said Connie de Ponte.

‘This is the first time this has happened in all these years.’

The pieces taken included brass letters from his name, numbers from his date of birth and death, as well as two brass roses and an ornament of Jesus on the cross.

The family is pleading for assistance from the community to find and return the stolen pieces.