It’s been an ongoing issue at the City of Washington’s Oakdale Cemetery: the disappearance of gravesite flowers and the basins that hold them. In response, Washington police have stepped up the number of cemetery patrols at night, but items continue to go missing, according to cemetery supervisor Jerome Tyson.

“We still have that issue. We thought it was solved, but I don’t think it is,” Tyson said.

“I’ve actually had someone come in this week and complain about it. This (gravesite was) on the side of the road. But it’s not as bad as it was two months ago. It was real bad two months ago.”

Tyson said the thefts are mostly confined to artificial flowers and brass or copper basins that hold flowers, because those items can be sold for scrap metal.

Items are often stolen between 4 p.m., when the Oakdale office closes, and the early hours of the morning — times when there are very few people about, Tyson said.

But barring a costly installation of security cameras in the cemetery, there is little officials can do outside of what’s already being done to put a permanent stop to the thefts, according to Washington Police and Fire Services Director Stacy Drakeford.

“After hours, officers continue to ride through there as part of their normal patrol,” Drakeford said.

According to Tyson, the thefts have pushed regular cemetery visitors to be more vigilant about what’s going in on the cemetery, keeping a watchful eye on gravesites and other visitors and reporting any suspicious activities to Tyson.

“I had someone chase someone off about a month ago,” Tyson said.

Oakdale isn’t the only cemetery where things go missing, however. Both Cedar Hill on Highland Drive and Pamlico Memorial Gardens on John Small Avenue have received complaints from those visiting gravesites, Tyson said.

Tyson recommends that those considering a purchase of an urn or basin for artificial or real flowers not buy actual metal like brass or copper.

“My advice is to get the silver (colored) option — there’s nothing to sell to that,” Tyson said.

In an effort to curb potential misappropriation of gravesite items, Washington City Council did put an ordinance into effect last year that requires anyone removing gravesite memorials to be an immediate family member of the deceased or have written permission from the immediate family.

“It’s slowed down, but we are on top of it and trying to do the best we can to catch who it is,” Tyson said. “It’s a shame people do stuff like that.”