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TOYAMA--Twenty-six cases of urns containing the ashes of women--most of whom were elderly when they died--have been reported stolen from graves around Toyama Prefecture, police said.
Notes were left on some graves that indicated that the culprit's objective was to collect ashes, but police have yet to determine a motive.
Toyama prefectural police are investigating the incidents as suspected thefts of ashes and other crimes.
According to a senior prefectural police officer and other sources, the thefts were first noticed at the start of the month, mostly by relatives who were visiting grave sites.
About 10 graveyards in seven cities and towns, including Toyama and Kurobe, in the east of the prefecture have been reportedly hit by the thief.
Vestiges of the grave robberies can be seen, and an urn was left behind in one case.
The police believe it is possible the culprit selected certain urns for reasons such as their posthumous Buddhist names or the names of the cremated people while alive.
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