DeKalb County authorities have arrested a Valley Head woman after they say she was caught in the act of stealing handmade floral arrangements from a gravesite.
Sheriff Nick Welden said the 69-year-old woman has been charged with fourth degree property theft and desecration of a gravesite, both misdemeanors. She also had two outstanding failure to appear warrants, according to Welden.
“It is sad that we even have laws on the books relating to this type of disgraceful act, but even worse that we have someone actually committing them,” Welden said.
According to the sheriff’s office, authorities received a report on Thursday of a theft of Decoration Day flowers from the Painter Cemetery at the intersection of County Roads 179 and 24.
The victim told authorities of an earlier theft at the same grave and had installed cameras, which captured images of a woman taking two sets of flowers early that morning, according to authorities.
“An investigation by the DeKalb County Criminal Investigation Division was then opened due to the callous and heinous nature of the act,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
During the investigation, a large amount of other decoration-style floral arrangements were also found at the woman’s residence.
According to Welden, the woman was arrested Saturday in Fort Payne without incident after she had already told investigators she was out of the state until Wednesday.
Those who believe the arrangements pictured belong to them may call the office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at (256) 845-3801.
