Editorial: Thieves sink to new low

Thieves have stolen a hand carved walking stick from a grave in Rotorua.

Things get stolen.

We know that. Chances are you've been a victim at some point.

It sucks.

But there's a special corner of Hell reserved for those who would steal from a grave.

It's not that long since we reported on the theft of a precious carving.

Just before Christmas Ray Watson found that a greenstone waka had been taken from his late wife Lisa's headstone.

Then yesterday we reported the plight of Ngaire Nicholson.

She read about the waka theft and went to check her husband Norman's grave.

Sure enough, a blessed Maori walking stick carved by her grandson had been stolen.

It had rested on Norman's grave, undisturbed for 10 years.

Not only that, Christmas decorations placed by her daughter had been knocked over.

Talk about kicking people when they're down.

It's hard enough living without a loved one, coping with that loss and facing a future without them without being forced to endure the desecration of their resting place.

This is why we can't have nice things.

Thanks to a bunch of idiots, local people can't grieve in the manner they choose.

We can't expect round-the-clock security at cemeteries, and we shouldn't have to.

It'd be nice to get back to a point where families feel safe leaving taonga on graves to help with the grieving process, but right now I wouldn't blame them for being too scared to.

Whether or not you believe in karma, chances are these vandals are up to other mischief and the law will catch up with them at some stage.