NATCHEZ — Natchez City Cemetery employees discovered more than $3,000 worth of equipment missing Monday morning from the cemetery’s maintenance barn.

Cemetery director Tony Nagurski said major items missing are parts of the cemetery lawn mower and all tools.

“It’s just a travesty,” Nagurski said Monday while purchasing new equipment — out of pocket — for the cemetery. “This is a community cemetery. It’s like stealing from yourself.”

Nagurski said because no signs of forced entry appeared evident, whoever took the equipment did it during daylight when the barn was open, or used a key.

“We’re not sure how or when it happened,” Nagurski said. “That part is a huge mystery.”

The maintenance barn is locked daily at dusk. Nagurski said the only people who have access to the barn are himself and a few cemetery employees.

Nagurski said he’s confident whoever took the equipment doesn’t work for the cemetery.

“My main help out there has been there for 15 years,” he said. “I would trust any one of them with the keys to my house, so I don’t think they had anything to do with it.”

Because of the meticulous way some equipment parts were taken, Nagurski said the vandals might be in the lawn care business.

“They took specific parts of the lawnmower, parts you couldn’t sell for money,” he said.

Aside from cemetery tools, Nagurski said vandals also took some items that hold sentimental value.

“They took my personal tools, which included some tools that were handed down from my grandfather,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking.”

Catherine Ratcliffe, president of the Natchez City Cemetery Association, said the cemetery is insured for theft greater than $5,000, which is just above the approximate amount stolen.

“It’s hard for the cemetery to make ends meet as it is,” Ratcliffe said. “To have this equipment stolen, it just puts us in a huge financial bind.”

Nagurski said any monetary contributions to aid in equipment recovery would be greatly appreciated.

Checks can be made out to the Natchez City Cemetery and mailed to P.O. Box 1738, ZIP code 39121.

“Any donations to help recoup this loss would be great,” he said.

Natchez Police detective Jerry Ford said a report on the theft was filed Monday, and would be investigated.