Monee Township Cemetery Thief Captured

A Sauk Village man arrested  by Will County Sheriff’s in the theft of copper vases at a Monee Township Cemetery.

It was on Friday, September 1st that deputies with the Will County Sheriff’s Police were sent to the Skyline Memorial Park and Crematory, located at 24800 Governors Highway in Monee Township regarding a theft.

Upon arrival, deputies observed 36-year-old Peter F. Dobrzeniecki stacking 190 copper vases into a pile on the property. Dobrzeniecki then attempted to conceal himself from deputies behind nearby bushes. Responding deputies also located a duffle bag containing 12 copper vases next to Dobrzeniecki. Dobrzeniecki stated that the bag belonged to him.

An employee with Skyline Memorial Park valued each vase at $300. Dobrzeniecki was later interviewed by detectives of the Will County Sheriff’s Police. During the interview, Dobrzeniecki admitted to stealing vases from the Skyline Memorial Park and Crematory beginning in January 2023. Since then, it is estimated that Dobrzeniecki has stolen 60 to 90 vases on ten separate occasions. Dobrzeniecki advised detectives that he sold the stolen vases for $15 a vase to an area business. Dobrzeniecki was charged with Felony Theft, Violation of the Cemetery Protection Act Theft, and also had two active warrants out of Cook County.

Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley would like to thank the responding deputies for their quick actions and apprehension of Dobrzeniecki. “We can now bring some closure to the families affected by the desecration of their loved one’s final resting place. This was a true team effort arrest by all Will County Sheriff’s Office personnel involved.”