Thieves broke into the vehicles of mourners who were attending a funeral service Monday at a Houston cemetery, KHOU reported.
Cellphones, credit cards and purses were taken at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in southeast Houston, the television station reported.
"My phone was in my purse, my car keys, my door keys to my house, credit cards, driver's license, insurance, health insurance cards, bank debit cards. Your whole life? My whole life," Maggie Turner, one of the victims, told KHOU.
Turner said she was attending the funeral of a family member, and her vehicle was parked about 100 yards from the service, which took 30 minutes, the television station reported.
Turner said she began receiving fraud alerts within an hour. Her credit cards were rejected at stores, but her debit card was approved for purchase that topped $500, KHOU reported.
In an emailed statement, officials from the cemetery said they were cooperating with authorities.
"We take the safety and security of our park very seriously; however, cemeteries are open to the public during normal business hours. We are fully cooperating with local law enforcement with the hope of apprehending these criminals," the statement said.
The thieves had not been caught yet, KHOU reported.
Turner said she and the other victims felt violated.
"It's just very, very wrong to do something malicious in a setting that you know is already emotional," she told KHOU. "It's already a difficult time, it's already a sad time and it should be about the family and the deceased. And not about missing phones and credit cards."
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