VANDALS have damaged more than 50 graves — smashing headstones and breaking ornaments — at a Western Sydney cemetery.

Police were called to Rookwood Cemetery on Hawthorne Avenue just before 2am yesterday and discovered the desecrated graves in the Ukrainian and Greek section of the cemetery near East Street.

NSW Police Inspector Sean Gabin condemned the damage, which was estimated to be more than half a million dollars.

media_camera Police investigate the damaged grave stones. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

media_camera A vandalised grave at Rookwood Cemetery. Picture: Lia Harris

“I’d have to question the person’s mentality as well as status in society as well as their upbringing,” Insp Gabin said.

“The lowest common denominator of a human being. I’d call them low grubs.”

Insp Gabin said it appeared the vandals had pushed over the gravestones or used tools to remove them from bases.

He said more than one person was responsible for the vandalism.

media_camera Vandals damaged graves at Rookwood Cemetery, one of Australia’s largest multicultural cemeteries. Picture: Lia Harris

media_camera Inspector Sean Gabin and a NSW police detective inspect the damage. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Family members were in tears at Rookwood Cemetery yesterday as they surveyed the damage heartless vandals inflicted on their loved ones graves.

About $500,000 damage was done when more than 50 graves at the western Sydney cemetery were vandalised, including smashed headstones and broken ornaments, by criminals labelled “grubs” by police.

Among the graves targeted by the careless offenders was grandfather Allan Petruszenko’s, whose wife of 47 years Janice wiped away tears as she stood next to his damaged gravestone yesterday.

“I just can’t believe these kinds of people exist,” Mrs Petruszenko said.

“We were driving here praying it wasn’t his, but then you don’t want it to be anyone else’s either.

“This is supposed to be a place of respect. It’s just terrible.”

media_camera Inspector Sean Gabin speaks to visiting family members of those buried next to the vandalised graves. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Mr Petruszenko’s sister Zena Brookfield also visited the cemetery to inspect the damage to her brother’s grave, as well as several other relatives buried nearby.

“You just wonder what kind of mental state these people must have been in,” she said.

“What joy could they possibly get out of destroying this?”

Police spoke to two men who were leaving the cemetery when officers arrived.

In a search of the men’s car, police allegedly found packets of substances, believed to be illicit drugs.

The men, 23 and 25, were taken to Auburn Police Station, but were released without charge as police continue to investigate.

Family members began arriving this morning to survey the damage to their loved ones’ graves while police forensic officers searched for evidence.

Lights and flowers were among the damaged items, police said.

Rookwood Cemetery is one of the oldest and biggest multicultural cemeteries in Australia, with an estimated one million people buried there.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.