El Paso County sheriff’s investigators arrested a man as part of an investigation into the theft of more than 70 copper flower vases from a cemetery.
Daniel Sanchez, 53, was arrested on Tuesday, July 8, after allegedly attempting to sell two copper vases to a local recycling center that he knew had been stolen, an El Paso County Sheriff’s Office news release issued by spokeswoman Priscilla I. Contreras stated.
The investigation began on Monday, July 7, after a person walked into the sheriff’s East Montana Patrol Station to file a report about property stolen across the street at Evergreen Cemetery East at 12400 East Montana Ave., the Sheriff’s Office stated.
During the investigation, deputies found that about 70 graves were missing their copper flower vases, which appeared to have been systematically removed in thefts suspected of going on for several months, sheriff’s officials said.
Several piles of discarded flowers were also found in the desert near the cemetery in a possible attempt to conceal the thefts of the vases, which have a value of about $400 each, sheriff’s officials said.
As part of the investigation, deputies and detectives from the East Montana station contacted several local recycling centers.
A center informed investigators that Sanchez was attempting to quickly sell a pair of copper vases, leading to the arrest of Sanchez in the theft case, officials said.
Sanchez, of the far East Side, was arrested on one count of theft of property worth between $750 and $2,500. El Paso County Jail records show Sanchez was booked into the Downtown jail on Tuesday, July 8, and released that same day after posting a $1,000 surety bond.
An investigation continues. Anyone with information or who may have been impacted by the cemetery flower vase thefts may call the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office at 915-273-3814.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com and @BorundaDaniel on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso man arrested after more than 70 copper flower vases stolen at Evergreen Cemetery
Reporting by Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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