Englewood police recently arrested a 46-year-old man in possession of 360 pounds of cut up brass flower vases, suspected of coming from the theft of grave markers at cemeteries.
Englewood police said they turned the suspect over to Denver police, who had an open investigation for a similar series of thefts.
7News identified the suspect as Christopher Schoenberger, 46.
Englewood police said officers responded to the 1700 block of West Wesley Avenue on Feb. 12 on a report of a suspicious male trying to recycle brass metal. Employees were suspicious, police said, because of publicity surrounding the theft of brass grave markers and flowers vases from area cemeteries.
Denver police said its suspect was in possession of four brass grave markers and 77 brass flower vases, worth a total of over $55,000.
7News said Schoenberger was charged by the Denver District Attorney with felony theft with a value of $20,000 or more and 78 misdemeanor charges for knowingly desecrating burial sites.
