Police were at the cemetery looking for clues yesterday and are following "lines of inquiry", Gore said. The cemetery is working to notify family members.
He wants anyone who has seen anything suspicious or who has seen the plaques to contact police. Scrap metal dealers should be particularly vigilant, he said.
A bronze plaque complete with inscription can cost close to $1000 but they are only worth a few dollars as scrap metal.
This is not the first time bronze plaques have been stolen from Purewa Cemetery.