Stolen ornamental mushroom returned to Scarborough Crematorium

A memorial mushroom that was stolen from Scarborough crematorium has been returned.

The distinctive memorial, the smallest of a cluster of three ornamental stone mushrooms recently installed in the crematorium grounds, was taken on August 19 after a car pulled up at night and a man got out and took it before driving off.

Scarborough Police was called and CCTV footage showed the unidentified man show the mushroom to a female passenger before he put it in the car.

Despite a public appeal neither the man or the car was identified.

However, when Scarborough Council’s crematorium staff turned up for work this morning (Monday) they found it had been returned.

Cllr Bill Chatt, Scarborough Borough Council Cabinet Member for Public Health and Housing told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he was pleased the thief had a change of heart.

He said: “It is nice to see that someone out there has a conscience.

“The staff turned up this morning and there it was. It was a nice surprise.”

As the memorials were relatively new editions to the crematorium, the one that was stolen had not yet had any personal dedications added to it.