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The Madison County Sheriff's Office is investigating the theft of 10 bronze plaques honoring veterans from Lenox Rural Cemetery in Canastota. Authorities discovered the plaques missing from headstones at the cemetery, located at 7196 Nelson Road, and announced the investigation on Monday (April 6).
Each stolen plaque measures 24 inches long by 12 inches wide and approximately three-quarters of an inch thick. According to investigators, each plaque weighs roughly 18 pounds, making them substantial items that would be difficult to conceal.
The timeframe of the theft remains unknown, and deputies have not determined exactly when the plaques were removed from the veterans' headstones. The sheriff's office is treating the case as larceny and has asked the public for assistance in solving the crime.
The theft involves memorial plaques specifically designed to honor military veterans buried at the rural cemetery. Officials note that these are not small items that someone could easily pocket, emphasizing the deliberate nature of the theft.
Anyone with information about the missing veterans' plaques or who may have witnessed suspicious activity at Lenox Rural Cemetery is urged to contact the Madison County Sheriff's Office at 315-366-2311. Authorities say even small details could prove valuable to the ongoing investigation.