River of Life plaque stolen in Warrington

12:35pm Wednesday 16th May 2012 in News

The plaque stolen The plaque stolen

THE River of Life memorial has been targeted by thieves for the second time in a matter of weeks.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the Bridge Street plaque - a tribute to victims of the IRA bomb in 1993 -was taken some time between April 20 and May 5.

PC Graham Davies, of Warrington Town Centre NPU, said: “This plaque forms part of a memorial and is of great significance to the town. It is upsetting for people to see that the plaque has been taken.

“We would urge anyone who knows the identity of the thief, or the whereabouts of the plaque, to contact us immediately.

“We would also appeal to anyone who may have been offered the plaque for sale to get in touch.”

The theft follows an incident on April 21 when Spartakas Grachauskas was arrested and charged with attempting to steal a different memorial.

He is due at Manchester Crown Court on May 23.

Anyone with information can call police on 101.

Comments(24)

widnesman says...
2:10pm Wed 16 May 12

UTTER UTTER SCUM!

This memorial is there to pay respect to the people affected by the IRA bomb both physically and mentally.
You are as much a low life as the bombers!!

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drunkennun says...
2:15pm Wed 16 May 12

SCUM OF THE EARTH
how can you disrespect the memory of 2 innocent boys that were so cruely murdered in our own town.

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kreecher says...
2:25pm Wed 16 May 12

Unbelievable.
How can there not be a definite date of theft though?

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cookie1974 says...
2:38pm Wed 16 May 12

Surely all the CCTV around Warrington they would be able to see someone doing that! Despicable People, they want shooting!

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exwarringtonian says...
3:38pm Wed 16 May 12

If anyone is offered this and they have any decency they will inform the Police, no doubt it will be dumped somewhere if they cannot pass it on, I do not think there is any expletive which would relate to the thief whoever they may be, the reason this plaque was placed there would not be of any interest to this low life.

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Chip Hazard says...
7:16pm Wed 16 May 12

So when exactly was it stolen? The dates don't tally:

1. The theft follows an incident on April 21

2. was taken some time between April 20 and May 5.

I know Bridge Street is a bit of a ghost town but 15 days before anyone noticed is odd in itself.

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bill_paddington says...
7:38pm Wed 16 May 12

The way I understand it was that somebody tried to steal it on the 21st of April but they got caught but now someone else has managed to nick it. Hope they catch the lowlife that did this and when they do the Guardian should name and shame them.

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Mr...S says...
8:35am Thu 17 May 12

would any of the people of warrington have taken this? i think not!! look at the name of the first man who tried to steal it an theres your answer!! find this person and hang them!!

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kreecher says...
11:22am Thu 17 May 12

Mr....S says, not sure the nationality of the initial thief has any bearing on who stole this.
I am not Warrington born (nor would I consider stealing this) would I be a suspect?

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andreask says...
12:31pm Thu 17 May 12

kreecher wrote:
Mr....S says, not sure the nationality of the initial thief has any bearing on who stole this.
I am not Warrington born (nor would I consider stealing this) would I be a suspect?
Hey Kreecher...leave those kids alone! :)
Wind your neck in mate. What Mr S is saying is that if you weren't from Warrington you wouldn't have a clue what the plaque is about and what it represents. Chillax.

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kazrobo says...
3:48pm Thu 17 May 12

It is beyond me how low people can sink, I hope they catch who ever stole this !

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A_LOCAL says...
4:02pm Thu 17 May 12

Disgusting, as one of the comments stated, surely cctv would be able to identify these culprits and bring them to justice.

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Nick Tessla says...
8:47am Fri 18 May 12

The people who did this are scum

Abyone who buys the plaque is scum

Anyone who knows who di this and doesn't tell the police are scum

Anyone who tries to use this to whip up nationalist hatred should remember what caused the bomb in the first place, hatred for one part of a community by another.

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askbillybe says...
9:23am Fri 18 May 12

This is deplorable, but lets turn this in to something positive. I am not from Warrington, but was very moved by the bombing. I would like to offer a donation towards a replacement plaque. If everyone joins me, we will not only be able to replace the plaque but also better protect it. Let's all rally together once again to show that mindless idiots cannot bring us down whether terrorists or thieves.

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MikeJT says...
9:42am Fri 18 May 12

Now this may sound a bit simplistic (but I have had experience of the police "missing the obvious"), this object hold so much emotion for people of Warrington, and within the space of days there have been two incidents of theft around it .......... ask Mr Grachauskas where his mate lives ??

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Bevan1 says...
10:41am Fri 18 May 12

These F*****G SCUM make my blood boil.......

I was 12 and on Bridge Street when the bombs went off. I was walking to meet my Mother outside Changes after going to M&S to buy her Mothers Day present. I couldn't find my Mum so started the 1 mile walk home this took me 3 hours, I have never been so scared and my parents were distraught.
I hope these B******DS hand themselves in because if I get my hands on them I will not be responsible of my actions.

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ChrisTaylor91 says...
11:23am Fri 18 May 12

I hope somebody finds who did this. Nothing short of execution is enough punishment for this.

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Woolfe says...
12:58pm Fri 18 May 12

Catch the Scum.. Hang them in Bridge Street where the plaque once was, leave em to rot there..
This would be a reminder to all about what happened on that sad day in 1993...
And what lenghts scum like the theif would go to for a few quid

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nextdoor says...
1:13pm Fri 18 May 12

Good to see its made the TV this time. Just hope that whoever has their hands on it doesnt destroy it.

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kazrobo says...
3:00pm Fri 18 May 12

I hope this is replaced immediately, judging by the photograph it hadn't been maintained very well either! The council should be keeping an eye on these things and make sure they are kept pristine, especially as they have street cleaners in the area on a daily basis.

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OneLastTime says...
7:20pm Fri 18 May 12

How low can someone sink?

Stealing a memorial which remembers the IRA bombings and the 2 young lives which were lost for just £30 is unbelievable. The person who stole this memorial obviously has no thought for why it is there and If any scrap metal dealer has any dignity and respect they wont buy such an important plaque to the town.

This guy should be found and hanged if i'm blatantly honest but all I want is the plaque to be returned to its rightful place on Bridge street undamaged.

I may only be 16 but I know how much the whole memorial on Bridge Street means to the people of Warrington.

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I am Oliver Cromwell says...
9:09pm Fri 18 May 12

How did no one notice it was missing for up to about 15 days ?.

And that area of Bridgestreet is teaming with CCTV but yet no one saw it vanish !!

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MikeJT says...
6:39am Sat 19 May 12

£2000 reward now available via crimestoppers. I'm sure if somebody is low enough to nick this for £30, somebody is moral enough to shop them for £2k!

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thatracoonstolemybacon says...
10:02am Sun 20 May 12

A Tarring and feathering is in order for the culprit or prits outside the town hall.Then parade them around Warrington.

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