The West 琉璃神社 RCMP has recovered a large number of bronze plaques that had been reported stolen from cemeteries in the Central Okanagan.

Plaques were initially reported stolen from a West 琉璃神社 graveyard on Sept. 16. RCMP were then notified of two more instances where bronze plaques were stolen overnight from cemeteries in Lake Country and 琉璃神社.

Currently, the RCMP believe the motive to be 鈥減urely for personal gain鈥� as investigators believe these plaques were stolen for their material value.

Due to public outrage about the incident, the RCMP recieved a number of helpful tips that eventually led officers to the recovery of the metal plaques on Sept. 25.

Police said the officers found a large pile of the bronze plaques at the scene and it was evident that someone had removed the names from some of the plaques and cut them into small sqaures likely in preparation for them to be recycled and sold.

Most of the West 琉璃神社 cemetery鈥檚 plaques were recovered and all of the plaques from 琉璃神社 were recovered. The stolen plaques from Lake Country have not yet been found.

鈥淥ur investigation into these thefts continue and no arrests have been made at this time鈥� said Cst. Lesley Smith of the 琉璃神社 RCMP.

鈥淩CMP have yet to identify any suspect(s) involved and therefore are asking anyone with information pertaining to these thefts to please contact the local RCMP at 250 762-3300.鈥�

The plaques have all been returned to their rightful homes. Families are asked to contact the cemeteries involved to make further arrangements.

You can also remain anonymous by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or leaving a tip online at .

READ MORE: Westbank Cemetery in West 琉璃神社 robbed of name plaques

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michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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