Watch CBS News

Surveillance Camera Shows Images Of Cemetery Vandals

By Rick Sallinger

LONGMONT, Colo. (CBS4) - A group of people suspected of recently knocking down headstones at a cemetery in Longmont were caught on surveillance video.

Vandalism (4)
(credit: CBS)

The vandalism took place at Mountain View Cemetery at the intersection of 11th Avenue and Main Street.

Longmont police say the images that show the suspected vandals were taken at 3:30 a.m. at a nearby Walgreens.

Vandalism (3)
(credit: CBS)

The vandalism may have been done for fun, but that's not how Longmont police see it.

"I would call it more emotional damage. We call it defacing property," department spokesman Sgt. Bruce Wittich said.

Some of the people in the images have already been identified. Police are asking anyone who recognizes any of the people in the images call police.

For those like Christy Griffith who have family members buried at the cemetery, the vandalism is far more that just tipping over pieces of granite or marble.

"Not that they care about the stone itself, but the person that it represents that is their loved one that is buried there," Griffith told CBS4.

It is someone's mother, grandmother or maybe one of those who settled the city of Longmont.

Christy Griffith
CBS4's Rick Sallinger interviews Christy Griffith. (credit: CBS)

"I think it's deeper than that, because I guess I feel like it's hurting someone personally. It's something they care very deeply about," she said.

The penalties are usually small for juveniles who do such things, but the damage can be great for the families whose loved ones are buried in the cemetery.

"It could be some emotional impact on them. No one likes to see their loved ones disgraced like that," Wittich said.

At this cemetery the dead have not been allowed to rest in peace.

CBS4's Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.