Lockdown at Woodlawn Cemetery Due to Vandals

Bill Follensbee has been a groundskeeper at Woodlawn Cemetery for about seven years. He's never seen anything like the recent damage caused by vandals, who tipped over seemingly random headstones, breaking several of them, and causing general havoc.

Initial estimates of the March 14 damages were in although the task of evaluating those that can be reset and those beyond repair has only just begun now that the snow has melted and groundskeepers are out and about.

No arrests have been made, and frankly, police say it's a tough case to crack. That is partly why the gates around the perimeter of the cemetery are now being locked at 4:30 p.m.

"The decision was made after consulting with police and the mayor and the trustees. They agreed it was the right thing to do," Follensbee said, before offering to take a curious reporter on a quick tour [see the abbreviated video tour uploaded here].

"Years ago the gates were always locked up at night, but that changed at some point," Follensbee said. "The neighbors are happy that we're locking it up again."

Jeffrey Snow, caretaker across town at Edgewood Cemetery said he is opposed in general to locking cemeteries.

"I'd prefer cemeteries remain open so there's always a chance people walking through or visiting graves will be a deterrent to vandals. I'm of the school of thought that we keep them open so the public can keep an eye on them," Snow said, following news of last month's the Woodlawn vandalism.

Although the main entrance to the cemetery will remain open primarily for safety reasons, it is the only way in or out, which should help to deter late night visitors who come to raise hell rather than commune with the dead.

"The neighbors do their best to keep an eye out, but they're actually relieved. Some of them have actually come around to thank us for locking the gates at night," Follensbee said.