Lubbock Police reported to Naugebaur Park on Wednesday morning after recieving a call that a loose gravestone was found. Thinking it may be linked to the recent vandalism, City of Lubbock Cemetery employees went to check if it was one of their’s, but determined it wasn’t.
Dustin Sadler with Sadler Monuments said they have unfortunately seen many kinds of vandalism over the years coming from family members, groups of teenagers, and even drunk drivers. Sadler said a lot of times families don’t get insurance for the tombstones because vandalism is the last thing they think about.
“We service cemeteries in a hundred mile radius in every direction on a daily basis and there’s not a cemetery it doesn’t happen in,” Sadler said. “Big cemeteries, little, even in a Texas historical cemetery you will see the damage.”
Tiffany Pelt with the Lubbock Police Department said if someone is caught damaging or stealing a tombstone, they could be facing a state jail felony, and up to two years in jail depending on the cost of damage, and the amount of the stone.
“Anything between $750 to $30,000, that is an automatic state jail felony.” said Pelt.
The Lubbock Police department is still investigating the vandalism that was found at the Lubbock City Cemetery on Christmas Day and is asking the community to come forward with any information and contact the LPD Crimeline: 806-741-1000
