Thieves are making life miserable for the families of loved ones buried in area cemeteries.

They're stealing wreaths and other mementos from grave sites, as Peter and Carol Frech of Ontario discovered Monday at Mansfield Cemetery off of South Main Street. 

They say wreaths were stolen from four graves for a loss of $200.

The Frechs do not hold the cemetery responsible, because it has a small staff who cannot see everyone who goes onto the sprawling property. 

They did not immediately think to call the police to report the thefts, but they will and so should you, if this happens to you.

Mansfield Police Captain Marijan Grogoza says they received only one report of grave site theft last year, but if more are reported, officers can step-up patrols and keep an eye on flea markets and garage sales for stolen property.

She says theft from a grave site, or damage to it, is a high-level misdemeanor which could bring jail time and Mansfield Police do not take these crimes lightly.