Someone stripped about 80 bronze vases from gravesites at Fir Lawn Cemetery in Hillsboro sometime before July 20, when staff reported the theft to police. It is the largest theft the cemetery has ever experienced.

The Hillsboro Police Department is investigating under case No. 26-13837. No arrests had been announced as of July 24. Fir Lawn is located at 1070 W. Main St. in Hillsboro.

Each vase is about 10 inches tall and weighs roughly 10 pounds, according to Hillsboro police. Only the vases appear to have been taken; no other gravesite items were reported missing.

Joey Coomer, Fir Lawn's funeral director and general manager, told KGW on Wednesday, July 23, that the cemetery occasionally sees small thefts of items left on graves but has never dealt with anything on this scale.

Coomer called the crime a "desecration" and urged metal recyclers to be vigilant, saying he hopes they can help solve the case and deter future thefts. He said the cemetery is sad that anyone would be desperate enough to commit such a crime.

Cemetery staff suspect the vases were taken to be sold for scrap. Bronze scrap averaged about $4.10 per pound nationally as July 21, according to ScrapMonster, meaning each vase would yield roughly $41 at a recycler.

Under Oregon law, removing items placed as memorials to the dead can be charged as "abuse of a memorial to the dead," a Class A misdemeanor under ORS 166.076.

The statute allows fines up to $50,000 in cases involving historic cemeteries; it is unclear whether Fir Lawn qualifies under that designation.

Families who have not heard from Fir Lawn Cemetery can call 503-640-2277 to check on their loved ones' gravesites. Anyone with information about the theft should call the Hillsboro Police Department's non-emergency line at 503-629-0111 and reference case No. 26-13837.