Gravesite Robber Nabbed By Tracking Device In Stolen Bronze Vase: Cook County Sheriff

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL — A 62-year-old man has been charged with a felony for stealing multiple bronze vases last month from a cemetery in Wheeling Township. Ronald Kathe is accused of theft (over $500) after police recovered eight bronze vases from his SUV, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

Police said that at around 6 a.m. Nov. 19, staff from Shalom Memorial Park, 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights, reported several bronze vases had been taken from gravesites. Security video footage captured a man tampering with grave markers.

One of the vases had a tracking device inside and pinged to an area in Lincolnshire. Police there located a Ford Expedition in the area where the tracking device was pinging, with a driver matching the description of the man in the security footage. Kathe was taken into custody, and CCSO obtained a search warrant for the vehicle, where they recovered eight bronze vases.

The felony charge was approved by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. Kathe was released from custody on Nov. 21 following an initial court appearance. He was ordered to stay away from Shalom Memorial and other cemeteries.

In September, a 61-year-old Northlake man was charged with removing bronze gravestone vases placed at various gravesites in an Arlington Heights cemetery. Police believe Randall G. Kasten may have stolen thousands of similar vases at other Chicagoland locations in the past year. He was arrested on Sept. 12 and charged with felony counts of unlawful vandalism of a gravestone and theft.

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