Man arrested for breaking open graves, stealing urns full of ashes

Eindhoven police have arrested a 22-year-old man on suspicion of breaking open graves and stealing urns full of ashes. In total, 10 cases of theft and vandalism at several different cemeteries are being investigated, local broadcaster Omroep Brabant said.

The investigation began after police were briefed about two incidents at a graveyard in Veldhoven, which in one case involved the grave of a child. The graves appeared to have been chosen at random, police said at the time.

Police then connected the cases to others involving vandalism and the theft of urns in Eindhoven and widened their search.

The suspect was arrest following a tip-off and there is no clue as to his motive as yet. Police found traces of ash at his home and at two other locations in Veldhoven, which may have come from the graveyards.

The police say they are not ruling out further cases coming to light, and have urged people in the region who may have been affected to come forward.

One man whose wife’s ashes were stolen told the broadcaster: ‘We are very happy, but we now have to hope that the right ashes are returned to the right relatives.’