Six massive bronze mausoleum doors, each weighing between 200 and 500 pounds, have disappeared from three family mausoleums in New Mt. Sinai Cemetery on Gravois Road in Affton.
The theft, discovered on Feb. 11, has left the cemetery, a historic resting place for Jewish leaders, rabbis and prominent St. Louis figures since 1850, with temporary doors on the family mausoleums where the stately bronze doors once sealed family crypts.
“It’s just a very sad thing,” said Don Meissner, the cemetery’s executive director. “Of all things, that people would steal from the dead, frankly. It’s just terrible.”
But this isn’t just a case of stolen history. It’s part of a growing national trend of metal thefts targeting cemeteries, public landmarks and other historical institutions.
A unique crime and a difficult recovery
Unlike mass-produced doors, the stolen mausoleum doors were one-of-a-kind pieces, many dating back a century or more. “Every single one of these is a custom job,” Meissner said. “You don’t find doors like this anymore.”
The doors, which were removed from three separate family mausoleums bear a distinctive patina of green and bronze, a characteristic aging effect of old bronze. Some date as far back as 1916, 1923, and 1927, adding to their historical significance.
However, police remain hopeful. “The county police are doing a heck of a job,” Meissner noted. “They’re not giving up. They’re looking high and low, and they have people to talk to.”
The rise of metal theft in the U.S.
Authorities suspect the thieves aim to sell the doors on the black market or for scrap. With bronze fetching about $2 per pound, the stolen doors could be worth thousands.
Yet, due to their size and historical significance, reselling them intact would be risky.
Metal theft has become one of the fastest-growing crimes in the country, fueled by increased demand for materials like copper, aluminum, and stainless steel. According to Nationwide Insurance, international demand, particularly from China and India, has created a thriving scrap metal trade, driving up prices and making metal an attractive target for criminals.
Copper is especially valuable and is frequently stolen from gutters, flashings, downspouts, water lines, and electrical wiring. Air conditioning units are often targeted for their copper coils, while construction sites and vacant buildings have become prime targets for thieves stripping materials to resell.
This crime follows a troubling pattern of metal thefts across the country.
- In Los Angeles, over 290 fire hydrants were stolen in 2024 for their metal, leaving entire blocks without emergency water sources.
- In St. Paul, thousands of streetlights were stripped of copper wiring, plunging neighborhoods into darkness.
- In Carson, CA criminals targeted Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery, stealing bronze nameplates and a plaque dedicated to boxer Joe Louis.
- In Denver, two men were arrested after cutting bronze statues from a Martin Luther King Jr. monument, causing $85,000 in damage.
St. Louis has not been immune to this crime wave. Since at least 2012, multiple mausoleum door thefts have been reported, including at Calvary Cemetery, where officials have struggled to maintain security. The rising demand for scrap metal, combined with gaps in enforcement and tracking, has made these thefts increasingly common.
How the public can help solve this crime
Authorities are urging residents to be on alert for suspicious sales of large bronze doors, particularly on online marketplaces like Facebook, Craigslist, and auction sites.
They also ask scrapyards to be cautious of individuals trying to sell large, ornate bronze pieces. Given the rarity and size of these doors, any attempt to resell them intact would likely raise red flags.
Residents should also report any unusual activity around cemeteries, including the presence of trucks or vans at odd hours.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Officer Bechtold at [email protected] or call the Affton Southwest Precinct at (314) 615-4266.
What’s next? The cemetery’s plan for restoration
While law enforcement continues the investigation, New Mt. Sinai Cemetery faces an uncertain future for the mausoleums.
If the doors aren’t recovered, Meissner said the cemetery board will have to decide what steps it should take or the affected families should take to restore the doors and preserve the beauty and historical appearance of the cemetery.
One option is to commission new bronze doors, though the process would be expensive and time-consuming. Another possibility is to install modern security doors, which may offer better protection but would lack the historical character of the originals. A more creative approach Meissner is considering involves having local artists paint wooden replacements as a temporary tribute.
“It could be a fascinating project,” he said. “We could employ artists to create something meaningful while we work on a long-term solution.”
For now, however, the cemetery remains hopeful that police will track down the stolen doors before they disappear forever. To help encourage their recovery, the cemetery is offering a $3,000 reward for the return of the doors or for information leading directly to their return.
