The Associated Press reports it's happening across the country-thieves hitting grave sites for scrap metal. Now since last Friday, officials say a130 vases have been stolen from two Parkersburg cemeteries.

Wood County Sheriff's officials believe thieves are stealing the bronze vases to sell to scrap metal recyclers.

In just less than a week, 80 bronze vases were stolen from head stones at Sunset Memory Gardens off State Route 95 and Parkersburg Police say 50 vases were reported stolen from the Evergreen South Cemetery near Parkersburg South High School.

Sunset Memory Gardens will cover the costs to replace any vases that were purchased from them.

The total estimated cost for the 80 vases could be up to $16,000.

A manager from Evergreen Cemetery wasn't available for comment Thursday.

"It rips my heart out just to call them and tell them their vase was stolen," said Joann Combs Clark, general manager of Sunset Memory Gardens.

"They're (thieves are) taking the time to take the flowers out of the vase, remove the vase, and put the flowers back in the hole."

Clark believes the vases are taken to recyclers intact and aren't melted down for the copper.

So she's asking recyclers to call local authorities if anyone turns in any bronze vases.

Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks says they've experienced similar problems but not recently and mostly around Memorial Day.

A local scrap metal recycling dealer says the price of copper has dropped recently.

On Thursday copper was selling for $3.32 per pound.