Tennant Creek police are investigating a spate of vandalism at the town's cemetery last week.

Senior Sergeant Craig Barrett said police received reports of extensive damage to a number of grave sites at the Tennant Creek Cemetery which occurred some time between Wednesday night, November 17 and Thursday morning, November 18.

Sen Sgt Barrett said the extensive damage included broken headstones, vases and ornaments.

"These disgusting acts of damage and vandalism have caused enormous distress to family members with loved ones in the cemetery. They now have the task of having to pay to repair or replace their loves ones' grave sites, and this painful process will only serve to re-open old wounds caused when someone's nearest and dearest passes away.," Sen Sgt Barrett said.

Police believe the damage was done some time between the early evening on Wednesday and the early hours of Thursday.

"Offenders have entered the cemetery and kicked over vases and ornaments and broken headstones and glass cabinets. They just generally damaged as many grave sites in the area as they could. An orange flag, similar to what you see on pushbikes, with the words "Huffy" in black writing, has also been stolen from one of the graves . Police have also found a golf ball near one of the graves and it has been seized as part of the investigation."

Sen Sgt Barrett said investigating police officers were shocked by the desecration of the graves.

"My fellow police officers and I are astounded at the immaturity, lack of respect and disgusting actions of people who would do such acts in a cemetery, which is, after all a place where people go to honour and remember their dead. It is difficult to imagine what motivates such behaviour and I urge anyone with information that can assist us in identifying these offenders to please contact police on 8962 0944 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. "



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