Scores of relatives of those whose graves were desecrated by thieves yesterday flocked to the police headquarters where investigators displayed a range of stolen items.

Objects on show included an impressive collection of crucifixes, lanterns, loops and other ornaments which were removed from almost 200 graves desecrated at Santa Maria Addolorata cemetery.

A long queue formed outside the police headquarters as families were allowed in one at a time by police officers who had a tough job to establish whether claims made by those present were authentic with the help of pictures and other evidence.

However, things proceeded smoothly throughout the day and the items will be on show for another day until 4 p.m. today.

The initiative follows the arrest of several people in connection with the thefts, numbering some 180 at the Addolorata Cemetery alone.

Last month, Jesmond Haidon, 40, of Cospicua was handed a 12-month jail term suspended for two years after he pleaded guilty to the theft of a monument from the cemetery last November.

His conviction followed the arraignment of another three people on June 20. Ronald Azzopardi, 24, of Żabbar, and Joanne Ellul, 33, of Żejtun pleaded not guilty to stealing items from the cemetery in May.

Emanuel Hayman, 57, of Fgura, denied handling stolen property after he was allegedly found with nine bags full of crucifixes and other bronze ornamental items.

Mr Azzopardi also pleaded not guilty to stealing similar items from the Gudja cemetery in April.

The Environmental Health Directorate, which is responsible for the management of Addolorata, is in the process of issuing a call for tenders for the installation of closed circuit television cameras, one of the measures being implemented to improve security at Malta’s main cemetery.