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Mass Theft Of Bronze Vases Off Veterans' Graves Called 'Despicable'

NEWHALL (CBS) — Bronze vases have been stolen off the graves of an estimated 100 war veterans at a Santa Clarita-area cemetery that has been plagued by such thefts since last year.

The vases, which are 8 inches tall and made of solid bronze, were "cleaned out" from the veterans section of Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall, according to the Santa Clarita Signal.

Dante Acosta found a hole on his son's gravesite where a bronze vase once stood.

"To us, it's part of his gravesite. It was a beautiful bronze vase with a cross on it, symbolizing his faith," Acosta told CBS2 and KCAL9 reporter Amy Johnson.

"It's more than just a thing, it's a symbol," he said.

His son, Army specialist Rudy Acosta, was killed in Afghanistan in March 2011. His vase and more than 100 other veteran's vases were taken from the cemetery.

"These are men and women up on that hill that gave their all of their country," said Acosta.

This is the third time this year thieves have targeted the cemetery. The vases are worth about $150 each. Authorities believe they are being sold for scrap.

"We've added security patrols and are approaching every after-hour visitor about the thefts and in addition we've begun replacing the bronze vases with similar vases made of metal scrap dealers will not recycle," cemetery spokeswoman Jessica McDunn told CBS2 and KCAL9 reporter Amy Johnson over the phone.

Eternal Valley Memorial Park has been plagued by such thefts for at least the past year. One man told The Signal that the bronze vase has been stolen off the grave of his son Sean, who was 12 years old when he died of leukemia in 2006, has been stolen three times in one month.

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