A man stole eight $500+ vases from graves in Illinois, was caught using a tracker and security footage.

A 62-year-old Arlington Heights man, Ronald Kathe, was arrested and charged with felony theft after allegedly stealing eight bronze vases valued at over $500 each from graves at Shalom Memorial Park in Wheeling Township on November 19, 2025. Authorities recovered the items from his SUV and used security footage and a tracking device placed in one vase to locate and apprehend him. The Cook County Sheriff's Office confirmed the charges, citing theft over $500. The case drew public attention due to the desecration of burial sites and the use of technology in solving the crime.