Copper and Memorial Plaque Thefts Rise Across Australia

Criminals are increasingly targeting memorial sites to steal valuable metal for resale at scrap dealerships.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Property Crime

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a stone pedestal with a missing plaque, evoking the theft of public memorials. — A surge in copper and bronze plaque thefts across Australia is devastating memorial sites and straining local community resources. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Theft incidents involving copper and memorial plaques have surged across Australia, driven by the high resale value of metals. Police reports indicate that offenders are harvesting these items to exchange for cash at scrap metal dealers.

Why it matters

The systematic theft of memorial plaques is causing significant distress to families and communities while reflecting a broader national rise in metal-related property crime. As copper prices remain lucrative on the open market, memorial sites have become frequent targets for illicit activity.

Crime Stoppers Victoria recorded 2,747 copper and scrap-metal thefts in the year to June, marking a 175 per cent rise since 2018. Investigators note that scrap dealers pay up to $14 per kilogram for stolen copper.

The players

NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research

This government agency provides statistical analysis on crime trends and patterns across New South Wales.

Crime Stoppers Victoria

This organisation serves as a community-based programme that allows individuals to report criminal activity anonymously.

South Australia Police

This state-level agency is responsible for law enforcement and the investigation of criminal offences within South Australia.

The details

Offenders are specifically targeting cemeteries and public buildings to remove brass and bronze plaques, which can hold significant value. Recent mass thefts include 150 plaques taken from Cheltenham Cemetery and 45 stolen from a lawn cemetery at Aberdare.

Between 2018 and 2026, copper thefts recorded by Crime Stoppers Victoria rose by 175 per cent.
In the year to June 2026, the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research recorded 1,029 copper theft incidents.
During October 2026, 45 brass plaques were stolen from a lawn cemetery at Aberdare.
On 26 October 2026, a historic plaque was stolen from a building in Port Adelaide.

Legal Context

The recent surge in memorial vandalism follows a long-term pattern where rising commodity prices trigger an increase in public property theft. Authorities are managing this trend within the framework of existing penal codes that categorise such acts as significant property crime.

The widespread theft of memorial plaques may lead to increased security measures and restricted access at local cemeteries to prevent further vandalism. Residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity around memorial sites to local law enforcement agencies.

The takeaway

Communities affected by these thefts are encouraged to document and photograph memorial plaques to assist with potential recovery and identification. Protecting public and private memorial sites requires increased vigilance as metal prices continue to incentivise criminal behaviour.