Rosie Olivarez never thought her daughter-in-law's final resting place would be a target for thieves.
"That's the hole," she said while pointing the ground.
Her late-relative's graveside vase was stolen.
The flowers inside were tossed aside like trash.
"It makes me feel sad,” she recalled. “I feel bad because those vases cost a lot of money.”
Rosie puts the amount lost at about $400.
She knows of other victims at Mont Meta Memorial Park along State Highway 345 in San Benito over the last few months.
About a dozen or so grave sites have missing bronze vases as well, according to her.
"They can't put in flowers no more," she said. "They don't let those people rest in peace. And there's nothing we can do."
But the desecration of the dead as she puts it, isn't just happening at Mont Meta cemetery.
There are reports of stolen vases at Restlawn Memorial Park in La Feria and Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens in Port Isabel, according to viewers who contacted Action 4 News for help.
Rosie calls them graveside robbers.
Police say they're pillaging for personal gain.
That's because the bronze statue is made primarily of copper that can be sold to scrap dealers at a hefty price.
Some fetch up to $500, according to online estimates.
In a statement emailed to Action 4 News, a spokesperson for Restlawn and Mont Meta cemeteries writes: "We hope that area scrap metal dealers will continue to be watchful for people selling bronze vases from cemeteries and ask them to contact local law enforcement to report any suspicious activity."
Rosie hopes other people are aware that just because it's considered a final resting spot, doesn't mean property will always be there.
"You don’t steal from the dead," she said.
Both Mont Meta and Restlawn are working with victims on a case-by-case basis to replace stolen vases.
Jessica S. McDunn adds how, "We are considering various security options; however, cemeteries, by their nature, are open to the public, so it would be unrealistic to restrict all access to the property or monitor the entire property with surveillance cameras.
Theft victims are urged to contact their local police department.
Cases of stolen vases are being reported nationwide.
In some cases, homeowner’s insurance will cover the cost of a replacement vase.
Click here to join Ryan Wolf’s Facebook Page
Click here to follow Ryan Wolf on Twitter
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKGBT