A funeral home in Dawson County reported its flower van stolen during a service Wednesday.
Tom Bearden, the county coroner and director of Bearden Funeral Home, told Channel 2 Action News people had taken porcelain figures in the past, but he was shocked when a parked van disappeared.
A thief jumped in the van and took off as mourners were filing into the chapel. The van was waiting to be loaded with flowers after the service to take to the cemetery, he said.
“Someone decided they need the van worse than we did,” Bearden told Channel 2.
The funeral home owned the van for years and used it to deliver flowers to the cemetery or any location a family requests.
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Bearden said he later learned an employee saw the van drive off.
“Ironically, one of our employees who was not working (Wednesday) drove by,” Bearden said. “He saw the guy turn around in the parking lot and drive off.”
The employee said the man had a backpack, had on a white T-shirt and had tattoos on his arms, Bearden told Channel 2.
The sheriff’s office is investigating.
Anyone with information is asked to call (706) 344-3535 or submit a tip through Crime Stoppers at (404) 577-8477, text information to 274637 or visit crimestoppersatlanta.org. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for rewards of up to $2,000.
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