Lady here was arrested for grand theft (a felony) when she was caught with USD 3,500.00 worth of flowers in her car -- in the cemetery where she had stolen them from graves.

She claimed they came from family graves but couldn't point out which ones. Then she said that the paper had reported that all the flowers and things were going to be cleaned away by the cemetery crews and she was just helping them out. That didn't fly either.

Finally she was plea bargained to misdemeanor charges of trespass and unlawful possession of property -- 90 days in jail, suspended.

The women was 67 years old.

In another case, two-inch-thick copper cable was cut off at ground level at a factory going in here. About 300 pounds (weight) of cable was taken -- this is solid copper, not twisted. So far as I know the thieves haven't been caught -- probably didn't sell it around here. The plant will make components for photovoltaic cells.

These aren't people with a family to feed -- they're people with a habit and it ain't eating. They're the ones who steal aluminum siding off of a house that's for sale, or break in and steal the appliances.

I have no sympathy for them.