Police arrested a suspect during a traffic stop in Lincolnshire after officials say he stole numerous bronze vases from gravesites at a cemetery in Wheeling Township.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office responded around 6 a.m. on November 19 to Shalom Memorial Park, 1700 West Rand Road in unincorporated Arlington Heights, for a report of a theft.
Staff from the cemetery reported that severe bronze vases had been stolen from gravesites.
Security video footage obtained showed a man tampering with grave markers, sheriff’s officials said.
One of the vases had a tracking device inside and it pinged to an area in Lincolnshire.
The Lincolnshire Police Department was notified and they located a Ford Expedition in the area where the tracking device was pinging.
Sheriff’s officials said the driver, identified as 62-year-old Ronald Kathe, was taken into custody.
He matched the description of the man seen in the surveillance video.
Officers also saw bronze vases in the SUV and a search warrant was obtained for the vehicle.
Officers recovered eight bronze vases from inside the car, sheriff’s officials said.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved one count of theft over $500, a Class 3 felony, against Kathe on November 20.
Kathe was ordered released from custody on November 21 following an initial court appearance at the Rolling Meadows Courthouse.
A judge issued Kathe an order to stay away from Shalom Memorial Park and any other cemetery as part of his pre-trial release conditions.
He is scheduled to appear in court again on January 6 for a preliminary hearing.