Three South Jersey women were arrested after the owner of a Philadelphia scrap yard reported receiving a large number of military grave markers.
The owner called Cinnaminson's Lakeview Cemetery to check on the women's story that they had permission to take the markers, which were being replaced, police said. Lakeview then contacted Cinnaminson police.
Recovered were 380 markers and flower urns taken from the graves of veterans whose service dated from the Civil War to the Persian Gulf war.
Similar thefts have plagued cemeteries in Cherry Hill, Pennsauken, Bellmawr, Edgewater Park, and Riverside, so Cinnaminson informed police in those towns of the arrests.
Also, on May 29, more than 150 metal flag holders were reported missing from New Camden Cemetery in Camden.
Cinnaminson detectives used video of the transactions and a license-plate number to help identify the suspects.
Charged with theft and fencing stolen property were Arielle K. Levin, 19, of Palmyra; Jamie L. Babcock, 27, of Bellmawr; and Tosha M. Fugett, 25, of Riverside.
They were being held in Burlington County Jail on $20,000 cash bail each, according to police.
Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.
