Cemeteries must also be protected from vandals: Broken decorative glass in Čepurci

Who could do this and why, passers-by ask as they look at the broken glass cubes on the fence of the Cepurci cemetery.

"This is absolutely reprehensible, even the greatest executioners would not do this. Therefore, everything that is good should not be given to us. We should be condemned and persecuted when we are like this," says one of the citizens.

"Terrible, I don't know what to say... it's a disaster what we're doing, what savages we've become," adds another fellow citizen.

They were taken aback by the persistence of vandals in this place and in the company "Pogrebne Usluge".

"Unbelievable, but true. We tried to replace those glass cubes, but it wasn't a permanent solution, so after a couple of nights they broke again, I don't think we'll replace them at this point, until the perimeter wall is built around the sixth and seventh phases of the city Čepurci cemetery, then we will change everything, all those glass cubes", says the director of the company, Srđan Miljanić.

Another example of vandalism comes from the University Park. The capital city, the University and the company "Saniteko" renovated this fountain, for which about 50 thousand euros were invested.

"We hoped that it would serve the citizens for many years, however, unfortunately, it was the target of vandals on several occasions, we hope that it will not happen again," said Nevena Mašanović from the Faculty of Architecture, and when asked if anyone was caught because of what happened, he replies: "Specifically, as far as this fountain of ours is concerned, I have no information that he was caught".

The Capital City once again appeals to citizens to protect property and to report any form of vandalism to the competent authorities

"We remind you that in the previous period, unscrupulous individuals targeted city parks, green areas, New Year's decorations, city fountains, fountains, public lighting, as well as numerous other facilities for the restoration of which the Capital City and competent companies invested significant funds, which could to be invested in new contents", the capital city points out.

Experts explain that vandalism can be caused by both family and society.

"One is, of course, the family level, which presupposes insufficient control, parental disinterest, likely neglect, lack of communication, models of violence within the family. Socioeconomic factors, for example. Job insecurity, instability in that sense... A call for all of us as a society to ask ourselves what our values ​​are," says Darija Petović-Bambur, psychotherapist.

And values ​​have fallen so much that we are stealing from graves.

"Now the most stolen are flowers, and there was also the theft of bracelets, which are made of copper, interesting for sale. Because of the vandals who are present, as in every other part of Podgorica, we hired a security company," says Miljanić. When asked when he will start working, he answers: "It will start these days, in the part towards Zabjelo, a house - porterhouse will be erected these days".

Čepurci city cemetery has 132 thousand square meters. Initially, they will have two security guards per shift, later maybe more. They will cost about one thousand euros per month, which is not a significant expense considering how much they are needed.

Much scarier than that is that we have to protect even cemeteries from vandals. As long as that is the case, as a society we have a lot to worry about.