Meet the King of Crimefighters

As a crime, it was beneath contempt.

While grieving friends and relatives were visiting Greenwood Cemetery, a young man was harvesting purses and other valuables from their unattended vehicles.

After a crime spree that lasted almost a month and victimized 14 people, John King (shown) and his cemetary staff broke the case.

King and his employees received one of eight Police Service Board Commendations presented at the 18th Annual Police Community Programs Night, jointly sponsored by the Holiday Inn and the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.

The following is the full text of the commendation:

************************************** POLICE SERVICES BOARD COMMENDATION

John King and Staff

During the summer of last year a disgraceful criminal act took place at Greenwood cemetery.

A young man decided to prey upon people who were at the cemetery to visit the gravesites of loved ones.

Grieving family members whose attention was solely on the memories of their lost family and friends were being victimized during this time.

The villain in this case would go to unattended vehicles and take women’s purses and other valuables from the vehicles parked at the cemetery.

Mr. John King, the cemetery supervisor and some of his staff became instrumental in our police service apprehending the person responsible for these senseless acts of theft.

Mr. King and his staff were able to provide a description of the suspects and the vehicle they were driving.

The thefts that began on June 28 came to an end on July 24 after 14 different people had been victimized.

Without the attentiveness of Mr. King and his staff this unfortunate act may have resulted in many more people being victimized.

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