Garretts Green stolen urn: thousands of people respond to police appeal to find burglar

More than 6,100 people share information to help mum find stolen urn with ashes of baby stillborn 10 years ago
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West Midlands Police issued an appeal to find an urn containing a dead baby’s ashes stolen from a home on Friday (Feb 4).

Officers said a burglar broke into the home on Clopton Road in Garretts Green at some time before 10.22pm.

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The urn, which is similar to the one pictured below of this story, contains the ashes of the homeowner’s first child, who was stillborn almost 10 years ago.

It is of little monetary value and police fear it may have been thrown away somewhere.

More than 6,100 people have shared the West Midlands Police Facebook post to help trace the urn.

More than people commented on how horrified they are that such a precious memorial has been taken from a local mum.

Undated handout photo issued by West Midlands Police of an urn similar to the urn containing the ashes of a child that was taken on Friday after someone broke into a home on Clopton Road, Garretts GreenUndated handout photo issued by West Midlands Police of an urn similar to the urn containing the ashes of a child that was taken on Friday after someone broke into a home on Clopton Road, Garretts Green
Undated handout photo issued by West Midlands Police of an urn similar to the urn containing the ashes of a child that was taken on Friday after someone broke into a home on Clopton Road, Garretts Green

What have people said about the theft?

Social media comments include:

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“Omg that’s terribly disgusting hope they do the right thing and leave it somewhere to be found .. karma will bite them hard for this may they never find happiness.”

Another Facebook user said:  “How terrible it’s bad enough that they’ve been the victim’s of a burglary but to have such a precious thing like that stolen is just tragic hope you’re reunited with it still intact very soon.”

Echoing the sentiments another Facebook poster said: “This mother has already gone through the heartache of losing her child, you are putting her through it again.

“If you have the urn and are reading the comments left, do the decent thing hand it in or place it back on her doorstep - return her child to her ”

Clopton Road, Garretts GreenClopton Road, Garretts Green
Clopton Road, Garretts Green

What have police said about the burglary in their own words?

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The police said: “We are desperate to get it back for her. She is understandably very distressed.”

The burglar also took some cash and a Nintendo Switch.

Police added: “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.”

If you have any information please contact police by either clicking on: West Midlands Police via webchat quoting crime reference 20/193726/22.

Or you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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