GRIEVING families are calling for more security patrols at Colchester Cemetery after a spate of thefts from their loves ones’ graves.

Police have issued a warning to families in the wake of a series of thefts from graves and from vehicles parked at the cemetery, in Mersea Road.

Local police have agreed to increase their presence in the area and keep in close contact with cemetery staff.

However, Alison Day, of Lethe Grove, Colchester also wants the graveyard’s owner, Colchester Council, to increase its own security patrols.

She has visited the grave of her son, Harry Sherman, twice a day since her eight-year-old died following a chest infection in April 2008.

She said: “I come here twice a day, as my little boy and father are buried here.

“We had stuff taken from Harry’s grave last year, including small crystals by the headstone.

“It is quite hurtful, as we put them there for a reason. It’s devastating.

“It’s horrible to think these sick people are walking around graves, stealing things.

“I don’t think the security here is very good. There should be more security patrols.

“After the cemetery is locked up at night, people can just jump over the fence, and the wall at the front is low.”

Insp Jim White, of Colchester Police, said as well as the thefts from graves, a green Suzuki car and a white Ford Transit van had been broken into at the cemetery on Sunday.

The vehicles were searched and the contents of their glove boxes turfed out, but nothing is thought to have been taken.

Mr White added: “We have had a pattern over a little while of thefts from gravestones and damage to the gravestones themselves. We thought, initially, it was cemetery officials removing wind-chimes, but that has not been the case.

“Toys have also been stolen from some graves.

“We have also had a couple of incidents of people interfering with vehicles and thefts from vehicles.

“We are in contact with the cemetery staff to make sure we are doing what we can.”

He promised extra police patrols would be sent out in the area with council street wardens also monitoring the problem.

Items were also stolen last month from two graves in Tiptree’s cemetery.

Colin Daines, Colchester Council’s protective services manager, said the vehicles broken into had belonged to the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, which rents a store at the cemetery.

He added: “I understand the cemetery was open at the time the vehicles were broken into.

“I don’t see us increasing patrols, as we are not aware of a serious problem.

“However, we take any theft from gravestones very seriously, as it is not just the cost, but the emotional impact of it.”