Woman's purse stolen at late husband's cemetery

HOUSTON – A woman's purse was stolen from her vehicle while she was visiting the cemetery where her late husband is buried.

On Tuesday, Terry Scheel went to the Forest Park West Cemetery on Westheimer Road and Dairy Ashford in west Houston to pay her respects to her late husband, Bill.  It would have been the couple's 13th anniversary.

Scheel said she was walking with a cemetery worker when a pickup truck pulled up alongside her truck, blocking her view. She said the employee reported hearing a pop and seeing a man climb out of Scheel's back window.

Scheel said the man broke into the back driver's side window of her truck and stole her purse.  Next, the man jumped into a black Ford F150 pickup truck with checkers on the side and took off, Scheel said.

"It's scary. It's sad. It's disheartening," said Scheel. "You know, there is good and evil in the world. But then you see that. You are at a cemetery paying your respects to someone."

Scheel said a cemetery worker tried to chase down the thief and noticed that part of the license plate was covered up.  

A cemetery spokesperson said it's nearly impossible to secure a cemetery that is, by design, open to the public. There are signs warning visitors to hide valuables and lock their car. 

The spokesperson suggested taking precautions at all cemeteries because criminals prey on even those who are suffering.