Los Angeles Cemetery Ransacked, Headstones Destroyed by Metal Thieves for Copper and Bronze in Slabs

Copper and bronze headstones dating back nearly 100 years were recently destroyed at a cemetery near Los Angeles by metal thieves.

Roughly two dozen headstones were stolen from Woodlawn Celestial Gardens cemetery in Compton, according to KTLA.

Owner Celestina Bishop told KCAL News that she discovered the damage last Thursday. She said she thinks a group of thieves cut through a fence and smashed grave markers.

"This is supposed to be sacred land and people are supposed to be at eternal rest," Bishop said.

Video taken by Aisha Woods shows the space where the headstones once stood. Woods told KTLA that some headstones were placed in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

“Some of them may be irreplaceable,” Woods said. “A lot of the families don’t exist anymore because they either died out or moved away.”

The cemetery is the resting place for more than 900 veterans from the War of 1812 to Operation Desert Storm. Bishop said the settlers of the city are also buried at Woodlawn. 

Woods said that some headstones were made of valuable metals like copper and bronze.

Five plaques, which held 150 nameplates, were also stolen off of a cemetery wall.

The stolen property could have a value of more than $100,000.

The owner of the cemetery has notified police and plans to reach out to pawn shops and recycling centers in case the thieves go there.

Police have not released a description of any potential suspects.