Pascagoula police have recovered 50 bronze vases taken from the Jackson County Memorial Park cemetery this past week.

The vases were found Wednesday by a Jackson County recreation park worker in a ditch behind the Helena Baseball Fields, said police Capt. Shannon Broom.

“The folks who had stolen them were probably scared and threw them out,” Broom said.

Broom said police are searching for two men believed to be responsible for the thefts that took place over a two-week period.

About 200 vases were reported missing this past Friday from the cemetery.

Broom said police had information that the men were trying to sell the vases for scrap metal at a business in Moss Point.

He said the vases weigh about 15 pounds each and bronze is selling for about $1.50 a pound. At that rate, the suspects could have pocketed $1,125 for 50 vases.

Alfred Williams, caretaker of the cemetery, said vase thefts are not uncommon.

“It’s happened before,” Williams said. “About six months ago. I think they are taking them and selling them. I’d come out here in the mornings and find some gone here and there. It’s happening again.”