Man sentenced for cemetery burglaries targeting mourners

David Bassett, a 44-year-old man from Rancho Cucamonga, has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading no contest to a series of vehicle burglaries targeting visitors at cemeteries in Los Angeles County. The crimes occurred between February 2023 and February 2024, primarily at two Forest Lawn cemeteries and Oakwood Memorial Park, while victims attended funerals or mourned their loved ones. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman condemned Bassett's actions, labeling them as 'despicable' and a violation of individuals' vulnerability during their grieving process. In addition to the burglaries, Bassett used stolen credit cards from the victims. Bassett's co-conspirators, Jimmy Griffin and Angela Desiderato, were also implicated in the investigation, though their cases remain unresolved. A restitution hearing for Bassett is scheduled for March 28.