Husband's tombstone stolen from Dudley cemetery
A 72-year-old widow has discovered her husband's gravestone has been stolen from a cemetery in the Black Country.
The woman last saw it in St John The Baptist Church in Queensway, Halesowen, when she visited three weeks ago. When she went to the grave on Wednesday, she found the white marble headstone was missing, West Midlands Police said. Insp Clive Steedman said: "This is a despicable crime and one that it is difficult to comprehend." "Quite why anyone would want to steal a gravestone we don't know, but the thief's actions has caused the family a great deal of distress," he added. The headstone stone measured about 2ft (60cm) tall by about 18 ins (45cm) wide and bore the deceased's name and the dates 1935 - 2009. Anyone with information is asked to contact police or call Crimestoppers anonymously.