Geraldton Cemetery spends over $300,000 dollars in security but fences are jumped and graves still damaged

School-aged children are believed to be the perpetrators damaging multiple headstones and grave sites at Geraldton Cemetery. Upwards of 12 headstones were vandalised at the Utakarra cemetery last week, causing grief for cemetery staff and the families of the deceased. Most of the damage occurred between the Muslim and Catholic section of the graveyard. It’s believed youths using “gings” are to blame. Geraldton Cemetery Board chairman Max Correy said he believed he knew who the perpetrators were and that they had been causing the cemetery grief for some time. “We see them walking around the cemetery with gings and there’s not much we can do,” he said. Mr Correy said the cemetery spent $300,000 towards increased security to no avail. “They jump over the 2m security fences with big spikes on the end of them and are smart enough to know where the CCTV is,” he said. Mr Correy said he felt terrible for the families of the damaged headstones. He said a number of Aboriginal Australian graves were among those damaged. “Last time this happened there were smashed infant graves,” he said. “They are school aged kids doing this.” Geraldton Police acting officer-in-charge Sen. Sgt Stuart Gerreyn said there were no official complaints directed to Geraldton Police by affected families. “Unless we are approached by the families or witnesses come forward there wouldn’t be further progression,” he said. Geraldton Police urge any witnesses or families of damaged gravestones to contact the station.