Mother issues a desperate plea to burglars who stole an urn containing the ashes of her stillborn daughter
- Mother-of-two Catherine Farrell-Breen’s property was burgled on Thursday
- Thieves broke into home, in Garretts Green, Birmingham, between 2pm-7.20pm
- They stole coins in jar worth £384 and a Nintendo Switch but also urn containing ashes of the waitress’s daughter Phoenix, stillborn nearly 10 years ago
A mother has appealed for burglars to return an urn containing her stillborn daughter’s ashes, pleading: ‘If you have a heart, please return it.’
Catherine Farrell-Breen, 31, has been left devastated following the burglary at her home on Clopton Road Garretts Green, Birmingham.
The thieves struck between 2pm and 7.20pm on Thursday while the mother-of-two was working as a waitress.
After breaking through a rear door, they stole coins in a jar worth £384 and a Nintendo Switch.
But an urn containing the ashes of Ms Farrell-Breen’s daughter Phoenix was also stolen from the top of a wardrobe.
Mother-of-two Catherine Farrell-Breen (above) has appealed for burglars to return an urn containing her stillborn daughter’s ashes, pleading: ‘If you have a heart, please return it.’ The 31-year-old has been left devastated following the burglary at her home on Clopton Road Garretts Green, Birmingham
Ms Farrell-Breen, who has two daughters – Loretta, eight, and Larissa, seven – has now made a desperate appeal for the return of the urn.
She told BirminghamLive: ‘I am devastated. Phoenix was my first child and was stillborn. She would have been ten 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.’
She added: ‘The urn is worth nothing. They must have seen the gold colour and thought it was an expensive vase so they took it.
West Midlands police issued this image of an urn similar to the one stolen from the home. Ms Farrell-Breen, whose first child Phoenix was stillborn almost ten years ago, said: ‘This has just brought everything back to me – the heartache of losing Phoenix. It is like it is happening all over again’
‘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.’
West Midlands Police have issued an appeal about the callous burglary.
They tweeted on Thursday night: ‘We’re asking for your help to locate a stolen urn like the one pictured. It was taken earlier today when someone broke into a home on Clopton Road, Garretts Green in Birmingham.
‘The urn contains the ashes of the homeowner’s first child, who was stillborn almost ten years ago, so we are desperate to get it back for her.’
The police appeal added: ‘She is understandably distressed. Some cash and a Nintendo Switch were also stolen but the urn has very little monetary value.
‘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.’
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