Woman begs burglar who stole urn containing daughter's ashes from Birmingham home 'please return it'
A Birmingham mum-of-two has made an emotional appeal for burglars to return an urn containing her dead daughter's ashes.
Catherine Farell-Breen was left devastated after a burglar stole an urn containing the ashes of her first child, who was stillborn.
The 31-year-old pleaded with the burglars: "If you have a heart, please return it."Burglars struck between 2pm and 7.20pm on Thursday (February 4) at her home in Clopton Road, Garrett's Green, while Ms Farrell-Breen was out working at her waitressing job.After breaking through a rear door, burglars stole coins in a jar worth £384 and a Nintendo Switch.But an urn containing the ashes of the mum's stillborn daughter, Phoenix, was also stolen from the top of a wardrobe.
She told BirminghamLive: "I am devastated. Phoenix was my first child and was stillborn. She would have been 10 in August. I cherish her ashes which I keep in an urn in my bedroom."On her birthday Loretta, Larissa and myself go out bowling to celebrate. We always keep her memory alive."The mum added: "The urn is worth nothing. They must have seen the gold colour and thought it was an expensive vase so they took it."It is of no monetary value but it just means the world to me. I ask these people, if you have a heart please return it.
"This has just brought everything back to me - the heartache of losing Phoenix. It is like it is happening all over again."
Police have appealed for help after a burglar stole the urn from a Birmingham home.
West Midlands Police appealed for help after a burglar stole the urn from a Birmingham home.
In a Facebook post appealing for information to locate the urn, the force said: “The urn contains the ashes of the homeowner’s first child, who was stillborn almost 10 years ago, so we are desperate to get it back for her.
“She is understandably very distressed.
“Some cash and a Nintendo Switch were also stolen, but the urn has very little monetary value so will be of no use to the thieves.
“They may have already discarded it somewhere, so we are hoping that someone may come across it and contact us.
“Please, if you have seen it, or have any information, please get in touch via Live Chat on our website quoting crime reference 20/193726/22.
“If you want to tell us what you know, but not who you are, ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
Credit: BPM Media
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