Te Puke father asks for help finding stolen cemetery ornaments

The ornaments went missing in early September. Photo / Supplied

Two ornaments have disappeared from his daughter’s grave and Don Schwass would like people to keep an eye out for them.

He told Te Puke News the ornaments had a lot of sentimental value for his family and he would like to see them returned.

His daughter Leilani’s grave is in the New Te Puke Cemetery.

Schwass said he visited Leilani’s grave just before her September 6 birthday, and the ornaments – a deer and fawn, and a kingfisher – had disappeared.

His wife, Lesley, had a look around the cemetery and couldn’t find them.

The deer and fawn had recently been cleaned up and repainted by Schwass and two of his granddaughters.

“Someone may have seen them in someone’s garden. They are not in the cemetery or on another grave,” he said.

The grave is in the children’s section of the cemetery.

He said the ornaments were of sentimental value to the family and it was upsetting they had disappeared.

Schwass said if they have been taken, then “I just think it’s a bit low”.

Anyone who may have seen the ornaments can get in touch with the family via email: donschwass8@gmail.com.