IN JAMAICA: A grave shame...Thieves break into tombs at May Pen Cemetery. CRIMINALS yesterday carried out a shameless act of depravity when they attempted to steal the caskets from two tombs at May Pen Cemetery in Kingston.

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Tuesday, March 10, 2015 

CRIMINALS yesterday carried out a shameless act of depravity when they attempted to steal the caskets from two tombs at May Pen Cemetery in Kingston.

Women discuss among themselves the attempted robbery
 at May Pen Cemetery yesterday as one points in the direction
of the tombs that were broken into....
 (PHOTOS: LIONEL ROOKWOOD)

Deputy Superintendent of Police Linval Phoenix, who is assigned to the Denham Town Police Station that is a stone's throw from the cemetery, said that about 7:00 am criminals went to the facility, broke open two tombs and were in the process of removing the caskets but were stopped in their tracks by alert residents.

"The men, we learnt, had reached as far as taking out one of the caskets and had opened it when residents saw what was happening and raised an alarm," he told the Jamaica Observer.

The senior lawman said that he was not sure why the caskets were being removed, but said that he would not dismiss suggestions from residents that they were meant for the underground multimillion-dollar used caskets trade.

Residents, meanwhile, have expressed disgust at the incident.

"All now mi still in shock. Ah walk mi ah walk on the road early in the morning and when mi look over the cemetery mi see ah man a break away the graves and all draw out one of the caskets from the structure," one resident related.

The residents said that what was particularly disturbing was that the act was being carried out in broad daylight.

Meanwhile, a distraught Gregory Goldson, whose grandmother is buried in one of the affected tombs, said that the incident has left him both shocked and angry. more