Altona Memorial Park, Melbourne: Heartless thieves slammed for stealing bronze plaques placed by families in memory of their children

Heartless thieves have been slammed after 75 plaques were stolen from a children’s cemetery in Melbourne’s west. 

Investigators believe they were stolen from Altona Memorial Park on Dohertys Road, sometime between Tuesday and Wednesday.

A Victoria Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that the bronze plaques were erected in memory of children by their families in the ‘Garden of Little Angels’. 

The plaques are suspected to have been stolen to melt down and sell for their high scrap value.

Detectives warned scrap metal dealers to be wary of thieves attempting to sell the plaques and report any suspicious activity to police.

Staff at one local scrap metal business told Sky News the act is ‘despicable’.

‘We wouldn’t take the plaques because we know it’s stolen,’ the staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, said. 

‘The minute staff see anything they don’t think is right, they will take down the licence plate, address and name.’

Detectives warned scrap metal dealers to be wary of thieves attempting to sell the plaques and report any suspicious activity to police

The thieves would need an ABN to legitimately sell the bronze through scrap metal businesses.

Police are investigating the incidents and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. 

Anyone with dashcam or CCTV footage of the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.