As with all cemeteries, those with loved ones buried at Glen Abbey Memorial Park & Mortuary often place flowers at the gravesites in memorial and remembrance.

But since the middle of last summer, the Bonita cemetery has been struck by thieves targeting the metal vases used to hold flowers. Cemetery officials said it has been hit dozens of times, most recently last weekend, with each vase costing about $1,000.

The Sheriffs Office is investigating the thefts but no suspect has been identified, the agency said Friday in a news release.

It saddens us that thieves are preying on cemeteries and gravesites to commit these crimes, the cemetery said in a statement to the Union-Tribune. The Sheriffs department has advised us to emphasize that the families are the victims in these incidents.

The cemetery encouraged families to report thefts to authorities stating that it was the most effective way to support ongoing investigations and help protect other families in the park.

The cemetery said it had also reached out to scrap metal dealers to ask that they remain vigilant for anyone attempting to sell bronze vases from cemetery property.

The cemetery has dealt with similar issues in the past, but the recent string marks the first time the problem has occurred this year.

We take safety and security very seriously and routinely evaluate the security needs of the cemetery, the cemetery said. However, cemeteries, by their nature, are open to the public.

Glen Abbey is not alone in facing metal thieves. Hundreds of bronze plaques were stolen from the historic Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetary in Carson earlier this year, the Los Angeles Times reported.