Stonemasons are believed to be stealing and recycling tombstones in the Johannesburg area.

Cemeteries in the City of Johannesburg, are being randomly targeted by several stonemasons caught in the act of recycling headstones.

The Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo have taken steps with the help of private security guards, the park rangers, SAPS and JMPD to contain the problem by increasing the number of foot patrols in some cemeteries particularly, Avalon Cemetery in the south of Joburg.

These steps have resulted in the identification of several stonemasons who steal tombstones from cemeteries. 

The Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo says that they "have registered a SAPS case and blacklisted a stonemason, with more actions to follow against other similar service providers caught in the act of recycling headstones. Two current service providers caught in the act, are claiming that they removed the headstones to be maintained."

While the liability and onus of the maintenance and safeguarding of tombstones are absorbed by the family, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo urges mourners and visitors to the cemetery to remain vigilant, take down the registration number of vehicles that you suspect of committing this crime and report it to the SAPS and the security personnel at the entrance of the cemetery.