Family's pain as flowers stolen from daughter's grave (From Watford Observer)

Thefts have been occurring over six months

4:00pm Thursday 27th September 2012 in News By Mike Wright, Chief Reporter

A grieving couple have described their anguish after having flowers repeatedly stolen from their daughter’s grave.

Colin and Veronica James have been left distraught at having to replace the flowers time and time again on the resting place of their youngest daughter Kerri in North Watford Cemetery.

The 21-year-old died in her sleep from sudden adult death syndrome at the family’s old home in Tudor Drive 11 years ago.

At the time the family had been planning Kerri’s wedding and Mr James said he, his wife and their two other daughters are still coming to terms with their sudden tragic loss.

He said the repeated theft of the flowers over the last six months has caused more torment to the family, who just want to grieve in peace.

"The wife just goes to pieces," said. "She’ll never get over losing Kerri, Not that I will. It is just upsetting.

"My wife is up there every weekend. We put fresh flowers up there as much as we can and in the wintertime we put imitations.

"This is the first week we have had to seal them in a vase. It is terrible when you have to concrete them into a vase."

For months the family have been replacing the flowers without complaint - however, this weekend they raised the issue with Watford Borough Council , which oversees the cemetery in North Western Avenue.

The police have since been notified and have confirmed they are investigating the thefts.

Mr James, 63, who used to own P G Butchers in St Albans Road , said as well as the emotional toll the thefts had taken, they had also cost his family hundreds of pounds.

The Woodmere Avenue resident added: "We spend about £50 or £60 each time. My wife won’t have cheap nasty things as we want to do the best by her.

"I think half the trouble is her grave is by the woods. The ones in the open don’t get taken.

"We just want to get on with our lives. It’s not right, is it?"

Dan Phillips, a spokesman for Hertfordshire Constabulary , said: "Police are investigating the theft of flowers from a grave at North Watford Cemetery that occurred between Thursday, August 30, and Saturday, September 15.

"When thefts of this nature occur it is very upsetting for the victims and we will do all we can to investigate them.

"We would appeal to anyone who saw anyone behaving suspiciously between these dates to contact police using the non-emergency number 101."