The Coffs Coast Advocate reports it believes around 10 plaques have been stolen from the Woolgoolga Lawn Cemetery in recent times and a further 11 plaques have been prised off headstones at Coffs Harbour's historic cemetery. 

Sydney-based Catholic nun, Sister Yvonne Channells was shocked to find someone had removed the plaque from the gravesite of her parents Kathleen and Adam.

"It's very disturbing, I can only presume that someone has desecrated my parents’ grave to sell the plaque or melt down the metal for their own financial gain, which is just a terribly unscrupulous thing for anyone to do," Sister Channells said.