Police: Pair had stolen veterans' grave markers

PERKINS TWP. — Police recently charged two people following a year-long investigation of stolen military grave markers in Perkins Township. A 51-year-old Sandusky woman and a 41-year-old Berlin Heights man were both charged with receiving stolen property and criminal mischief, which are all misdemeanors. This Facebook post advertising the sale of the military grave markers was allegedly stolen from a Perkins Township cemetery. Police first learned in February 2023 that the woman had made a post on Facebook advertising the sale of military grave markers for $150, which they claimed were "found in a basement," according to a Perkins police report. Officers checked the Perkins Cemetery, located in the 5900 block of Milan Road (U.S. 250), and eventually, with help from the Erie County Veterans Service Office, confirmed that military grave markers attached to flag holders had been taken from seven graves in the cemetery. Police caught up with the woman and asked her about the grave markers she posted online. She told officers that she found them in a garage but agreed to return them by June 2, 2023, the report states. But police said they didn't meet that deadline, and charges were filed against her and the man this past January. Perkins police made a post online about the case on Friday. "We have recovered several of the cemetery markers, but they were in rough condition," according to the post. "We want to thank the Erie County Veteran Services as they provided brand new markers and display poles for all of these veterans whose military markers were stolen free of charge." Officers placed these replacement pooles at the graves on Friday. "Great job by all involved and due to a new and advanced security camera system installed at the Perkins Cemetery we don't see this being a problem in the future," the post states.