The thefts occurred at multiple cemeteries across Bensalem, Lower Southampton, Montgomery and Delaware counties, as well as in Wilmington, Delaware, with doors weighing as much as 400 pounds.

Authorities say a Philadelphia man stole and altered more than a dozen brass mausoleum doors worth over $180,000 from cemeteries in Bucks and Montgomery counties, and sold the scrap to metal recyclers in Delaware and Philadelphia.

The suspect admitted to removing and cutting up the doors and selling the scrap for about $10,821 between December 2024 and February 2025.

A plea agreement reduced the original 10 second-degree burglary counts to lesser offenses, guiding the negotiated sentence.

The case began after a months-long inquiry triggered by missing doors at Roosevelt Memorial Park, Sunset Memorial Park, White Chapel Memorial Park and other cemeteries, prompting broader scrutiny of similar thefts nearby.

Under the plea terms, restitution totals $87,750, with a sentence of 5 to 23 months in Bucks County Prison followed by a consecutive probation period.

The defendant was sentenced to 5 to 23 months in Bucks County Correctional Center and ordered to repay $87,750 to Roosevelt Memorial Cemetery in Bensalem.

Thefts occurred between December 2024 and February 2025, with an active warrant for three thefts noted by Bensalem Police last September.

Investigators noted patterns: the doors’ distinctive designs, the defendant providing buyers with his phone number, vehicle registration, and photos of the stolen metal during transactions.

The case stemmed from a December 2023 year-end report of four missing doors at Roosevelt Memorial Park and spanned multiple sites, focusing on selling stolen metal rather than use.

Authorities traced yellow brass sales to scrap outfits in Dover and New Castle, Delaware, and Philadelphia, with photos and the suspect pictured beside the metal in liquidation images.

A Philadelphia man, Michael Evangelist, pleaded guilty to 10 felony charges related to stealing and selling brass mausoleum doors from several area cemeteries.