“Insiders” may have played a crucial role in the recent thefts of urns from columbaria across several states.
According to Federation of Chinese Cemetery Associations Malaysia chairperson Lee Koon Lam, publicly known details of the incidents suggest that the crimes were carefully planned with insider knowledge.
“It is not easy to remove urns from a columbarium. There are locks, access points, and controlled movement involved,” the New Straits Times quoted him as saying.
“It is impossible to pull off such a theft without someone from inside providing information or assistance.”
Lee, who also serves as the Perak Chinese Cemetery Association chairperson and the Kuala Kangsar Kwang Tung & Kwang Sai Burial Ground president, highlighted that the large number of urns stolen thus far indicated well-coordinated plans rather than haphazard and isolated acts.
“If it were a personal grievance, they would only take one. But, when dozens are stolen, it points to a planned operation, possibly involving a syndicate,” he said.
Lee added that the theft of burial urns was something he had not encountered before, as grave robbers would typically go for valuables buried with the deceased.
However, police sources reportedly said urn theft is not new, with the recent cases drawing heightened attention from the authorities due to the sheer volume snatched within a month.
The report noted that recent cases included the theft of 22 urns from the Perpetual Memorial Park in Kulai, Johor, on March 9; 30 from the Xiao En Memorial Park in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, on March 18; and an undisclosed number from the Nirvana Asia Group.
Ransom demands
Nilai district police chief Johari Yahya previously said culprits had contacted management with a morbid business proposal - pay up, and the urns would be returned.
It was also understood that the urns stolen from Nirvana had been returned, but it was unknown whether a ransom had been paid.
Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail reportedly said the Federal Criminal Investigation Department has been instructed to investigate the matter.
Depending on placement and orientation within the columbarium, prices can vary from RM3,000 to RM18,000, with eye-level niches typically commanding the highest rates.
Urging affected families not to pay the ransom and to lodge a report with the authorities, Lee further advised cemetery association members nationwide to strengthen security systems.
He said this can be done by installing CCTV, reinforcing locks, and monitoring visitors. - Mkini
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