Palma Campania: Sacrilegious theft in the cemetery, a 42-year-old reported by the Carabinieri

A gesture that leaves one speechless, a theft that offends not only the memory of the deceased but also the feelings of those who loved those deceased.

It happened in the cemetery of Palma Campania, where a 42-year-old man, originally from Sri Lanka, was caught by the Carabinieri while he was ransacking the tombs, stealing objects of little material value but of inestimable emotional significance.

The military, during a routine check, found him bent over a grave, intent on dismantling a silver statuette of Padre Pio, about 30 centimeters high, from its base. The man, caught red-handed, did not attempt to escape, surrendering to the evidence.

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During the search of his backpack, the Carabinieri found a shocking haul: dozens of rosaries, medals, necklaces, statuettes and even a pink pen with a doll, probably left by a little girl in memory of her missing grandfather.

Among the seized objects, there were also about forty rosaries, some of which with medals yellowed by time, which held family photos. Objects that, despite not having an economic value, represent a deep bond between those who are no longer here and those who left them there as a sign of love and devotion.

The 42-year-old was reported for theft and all the stolen items were recovered and will be returned to their place, bringing some peace to that violated sacred place.

An act that raises many questions, especially on why a cemetery, a place of eternal rest, was chosen to commit such a vile act. Perhaps because of the value of the objects, perhaps because of their apparent ease of removal. But what is certain is that, in addition to the material damage, there is a pain inflicted on those who, in those small objects, had placed a piece of their heart.

The Carabinieri of Palma Campania have done a commendable job, restoring dignity to a place that should be sacred and inviolable. Now, the community hopes that similar episodes will not be repeated, because respect for the deceased and for those who remember them is a value that cannot be violated.