OKEECHOBEE — After the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office reported an arrest made in a string of thefts from Evergreen Cemetery, multiple families are coming forward looking for answers.

On June 12, the OCSO posted on their Facebook page about the arrest. The name of the alleged thief was not released. The report stated they found a campsite containing more than 100 items believed to have been stolen from gravesites at Evergreen Cemetery over the last few months.

The sheriff’s department requested anyone who noticed items missing from the grave of a loved one to contact them.

“If you notice any items of any size removed from a loved one's final resting place, don't hesitate to contact the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Office at 863-763-3117 to file a theft report.

In turn, the case officer will review the list of statues, markers, pictures, and other mementos found. If your missing item matches the list, you will be asked to come in for identification and the return process, and you will also be asked if you want to prosecute the individual for the theft.”

Since this post, several families from the community have approached the sheriff’s office about missing items. One woman said a statue was missing from her husband’s grave but she never reported it, because she did not want to waste the deputies’ time. After the post, she decided to ask if the statue was among the items collected. Unfortunately, it has not been located yet.

Some of the victims declined to press charges, but others were happy to throw the book at the thief.

If you think one of your missing items might be in the collection, please contact the OCSO.