Two Romanian nationals to face trial over cemetery thefts in western France

Thursday 07 May 2026 - 14:45

Two Romanian nationals are set to appear before a court in western France after being accused of stealing bronze ornaments and damaging graves in several cemeteries across the regions of Mayenne and Ille-et-Vilaine.

French prosecutors said the suspects, aged 32 and 34, were arrested during a police operation carried out at their homes earlier this week. Authorities launched an investigation following reports of damaged tombstones discovered during the night of April 15 to 16 in southern Mayenne.

According to investigators, the two men allegedly admitted to stealing dozens of bronze statuettes and decorative funeral ornaments from cemeteries located in the two departments. Officials estimate the financial damage at between 20,000 and 25,000 euros.

The case has drawn attention because of the emotional impact such crimes have on families and local communities. Acts involving cemetery vandalism and grave desecration are considered particularly serious offenses in France, where burial sites are protected by law and regarded as places of memory and respect.

Judicial authorities stated that the suspects had previously been convicted in other cases involving similar offenses. Prosecutors accuse them of organized theft, property damage, and violations of burial sites.

The men were initially expected to appear in court immediately after their arrest, but the hearing has been postponed until mid-June to allow further examination of the case.

Local officials have condemned the incidents and called for stronger protection measures in rural cemeteries, where bronze ornaments and religious statues are increasingly targeted by thieves because of the value of metal materials.