'Heartless and cruel': Callous vandals steal plaques from graves

Callous vandals have stolen at least a dozen plaques from grave sites at a cemetery in Victoria.

Relatives say it's sickening to see their loved one's plots damaged, presumably so the name plates can be melted down for scrap.

Paul and Belinda Bandham are devastated the grave site of their beloved sister and aunty Robyn has been desecrated.

"Terrible - it's very upsetting as a family member. I think just the respect and the morals have all gone," Mr Bandham said.

"Low-life scumbags to be honest. Someone ... with no morals, no values and clearly with no family members here," Mrs Bandham said.

Vandals struck the Cranbourne Cemetery, stealing a number of grave name plates.

"Pretty low to be honest, to rob a grave - and it is grave-robbing to me - for a few dollars," Mr Bandham said.

Police are investigating the thefts.

"I think it's a heartless and cruel act," a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

"We are putting it out there, for scrap metal traders to be aware of anybody who may be trying to scrap any bronze plaques from a cemetery."

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Worried mourners visited the cemetery after the news broke, fearing their loved ones' graves might also have been damaged.

With the cemetery 150 years old, management admits security is an issue, with poor fencing and just one CCTV camera to cover the entire area.

"It's going to be very difficult to cover this cemetery even if we shut the gates, over the fence they come - easy enough to do," Cranbourne cemetery manager Ron White said.

It is hoped whoever is responsible will show some decency and return the plaques.

Mrs Bandham had one simple question for the thieves.

"What are you doing?," she said.

"Just take a good hard look at yourself. It's quite disgusting."