A Tasmanian man is facing flower stealing charges following a family stakeout in a cemetery using a camera hidden in a headstone.

Police say a family was so distressed by the repeated theft of flowers from a grave that they decided to capture the culprit's image.

The family set up a camera in the bottom of a headstone at Hobart's Cornelian Bay Cemetery.

Police have charged a 64-year-old Risdon Vale man with three counts of theft.

Cemetery spokesman Scott Cranfield says it is a difficult problem to manage.

"There are many places to hide; down behind headstones and in between graves and it's quite easy to move around that cemetery without being detected."

People have previously tried to sell items stolen from graves and Mr Cranfield says he is not surprised by the incident.

"We have had in the past car boot sales, people attempting to sell these items."

The man charged over the thefts will face court in January.