Dozens of bronze memorial plaques stolen from Alameda park benches, leaving families shocked

ALAMEDA, Calif. (KGO) -- More than two dozen memorial plaques honoring loved ones were stolen from a popular Alameda park, raising concern among families and park advocates who fear the thefts may be part of a growing trend.

The missing plaques were discovered at Jean Sweeney Open Space Park, where nearly every bench once featured a bronze marker dedicated to a family member.

Among them was a plaque remembering Erna Brockl, placed by her family as a way to honor her life. Brockl's family reached out to us after seeing our reporting on stolen bronze stars in Vallejo.

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"I didn't have -- other than her ashes -- have anything else to kind of remember her with," Bianca Brockl said.

The bench quickly became a gathering place for the family, a spot where they could sit together and feel close to her mother.

"To have a set place to remember her and sort of be together like a family again," said Rachel Brockl, Erna Brockl's granddaughter.

That sense of togetherness was disrupted when the family noticed something was missing: there was a hole where the plaque used to be.

"I said, 'It can't be right,' and I looked and I looked and I looked around, not knowing at that point that other benches were also vandalized," Brockl said.

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The Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Fund board said a total of 26 plaques were stolen on the same night.

Dorothy Freeman, who serves on the board, believes the motive may be tied to the value of the materials.

"Evidently, they use the bronze, and they can probably melt it down and sell it," Freeman said.

According to the ABC7 Eyewitness News data team, bronze has been selling for as high as $3.70 a pound at scrap yards. Copper, its main ingredient, recently hit its highest price in five years.

Park leaders are now looking for ways to prevent future thefts. Freeman said the fund is working with Alameda Advertising and Recognition, the company that produced most of the original plaques, to get creative.

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"We're trying to find a material that's not that valuable that we can replace the plaques with," she said. They're also exploring ways to make plaques harder to remove. The Brockl family said they would like to see lights or cameras installed in the park.

When asked what she would say to those responsible, Bianca Brockl said, "Shame on you. What's the purpose? Don't you have any feelings about people that have passed away?"

Rachel Brockl added, "Shame on somebody for going that low to steal something so meaningful. It's almost like adding insult to injury."

The Jean Sweeney Open Space Park Fund said it is actively working to replace the stolen plaques for every affected family free of charge.