Thieves have stolen flowers and ornaments from a grave in the Orange cemetery for the third time in 15 months, according to the family of the deceased man.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Central Western Daily spoke to the man's daughter who was angry her father's grave had been targeted.
The woman said her family did not wish to be named for fear of retribution.
"It makes me quite angry and sad," she said.
She said her father was well-respected in the Orange community and to see items left on the gravesite stolen was disappointing.
She said a plant and ornament had been stolen from the grave in the past week.
Family members searched around the cemetery after noticing the items gone but had not been able to find them.
It makes me quite angry and sad.
- Daughter of deceased grave robbery victim.
The woman said it was time to consider increased security at the cemetery including the provision of CCTV cameras.
Further thefts at the cemetery have been reported on social media in the past two days.
Two people said items, including flowers, had been stolen from loved ones' graves while another person said they had resorted to sticking their items to the grave with silicone to stop theft.
Orange City Council spokesman Nick Redmond said CCTV cameras might be considered but there were other considerations.
"Positioning mobile CCTV cameras at the cemetery is an option that could be considered in future but that would need to be balanced with privacy concerns," he said.
The issue of CCTV cameras was raised last year after decorations on a grave were damaged.
Mr Redmond said the council gave a high priority for the cemetery as "a peaceful place of beauty" which he said the community largely respected.
"Incidents of damage are thankfully very rare," he said.
However Mr Redmond said there were risks associated with leaving ornaments at a grave site, even apart from theft.
"It can be a very windy site and items can break or be blown around the cemetery," he said.
"The gates are locked each night at sunset and there are after hours patrols," he said.
DO YOU WANT MORE ORANGE NEWS?
Receive our free newsletters delivered to your inbox, as well as breaking news alerts. Sign up below ...