THIEVES stole floral tributes from a man's grave just hours after his funeral.
The devastated family of 72-year-old Terry Smith say the "horrendous" crime has left them feeling sick.
One of them was tied with a "Dad" ribbon, the other a "husband" one.
Mr Smith's family visited his grave on Tuesday, the day after he was laid to rest in Cleethorpes Cemetery, and the tributes were still there.
But when they returned two hours later, they were gone.
His wife of 52 years, Pamela, of Greenfinch Drive, on Cleethorpes Country Park, said: "It's horrendous. How can somebody do that?
"I can't believe somebody would stoop so low as to steal flowers from a grave.
"In just two hours of us being there at his grave somebody has walked up and stolen the flowers.
"I felt sick when I realised what they had done.
"I have been crying all day and all night.
"I have had to lose my husband, who I have been with since 1961, and then I have had to see that someone has stolen from his grave.
"I just want to put these people to shame, to show people what they have done to us.
"Hopefully, by telling people, they may be more aware of anybody in the area that is doing this.
"I don't know what to say, we are devastated.
"How can people take things from graves? It's so awful.
"We are all in turmoil, it's disgusting."
Mr Smith had worked as a long distance lorry driver until he retired two years ago. He died of a brain tumour on Monday, September 16.
Daughter, Julie Francis said: "We went to see his grave on Tuesday morning and the display looked beautiful.
"When we returned at 1.30pm there were two big spaces on the grave.
"Fortunately I had taken pictures in the morning and we could see exactly what was missing.
"Somebody has walked past and stolen them.
"They have, for whatever reason, just grabbed them off the grave.
"It is upsetting enough having to bury your dad but then have to see someone steal from his grave, it's just terrible.
"It has been a very emotional year after dad was diagnosed with a brain tumour and to have to say goodbye to him.
"Yet now we have to deal with this.
"He was such a lovely man and a great dad. Why can't they just let him rest?"
Councillor Ray Oxby, portfolio holder for Environment and Housing at North East Lincolnshire Council, which manages the cemetery, said: "The death of a loved one is very distressing and it must be heartbreaking to have flowers taken from a graveside so soon after a funeral.
"Officers working at the cemetery are vigilant and keep a watch for any suspicious behaviour, but when a theft such as this occurs, our advice is to report it to the police.
"My sympathy is with the family at this difficult time and I urge anyone with information about this crime to contact the police."
A Humberside Police spokesman said: "The theft of flowers from a grave has caused a great deal of distress to the family involved.
"The person responsible for the theft should be ashamed of themselves.
"If anyone has information about who may be responsible they should contact Humberside Police on 101, quoting crime reference 1999983."Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
