A grieving family has appealed for the return of precious reminders of a late husband and son which were stolen during a house burglary on Huntington Road in York on Thursday 20 December 2012.
The victim, 71-year-old Daphne Read, has been left devastated by the theft of her jewellery which were gifts from her loving husband and son who died just seven months apart aged 73 and 49 in December 2010 and July 2011.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Simon Fennell, said:
Under normal circumstances, burglary has a terrible affect on its victims, but in this case, the stolen items were treasured gifts from the victim’s husband and son who have sadly died. This has added to the victim’s distress considerably.
The jewellery provided cherished memories of her beloved family and now she longer has that comfort because of callous and selfish thieves. It has been particularly hard for the family over the Christmas holiday. The monetary gain for the thieves will be insignificant compared with the emotional loss to the victim.
Someone, somewhere will know where this jewellery is now. I am appealing to those people, including anyone who has been offered jewellery for sale, or received it as a Christmas present, to search their conscience and do the right thing by contacting the police or Crimestoppers immediately.
Mrs Read’s daughter, Jackie Houston, added:
Our family were devastated when my brother and dad died and mum took great comfort from the jewellery which kept her close to them. Now that has been cruelly taken away from her.
I urge anyone who knows where the jewellery is or can help the investigation, to please contact the police as soon as possible and help bring some happiness for my mum who has been absolutely devastated by what has happened.
The stolen jewellery includes:
- A gold heart decorated with rubies
- Silver fish on a chain
- 2-inch solid silver bar
- Opal earrings and an opal necklace
- Large silver ring decorated with a number of precious stones with matching necklace
- Various gold chains
- Matching pearl necklace and earrings
- Three-row pearl choker necklace which is around 50 years old
- Gold dolphin bracelet with turquoise stones
- Small gold dolphin earrings
The photos can be viewed on the force Facebook page www.facebook.com/NorthYorkshirePolice
If you have any information which could help the investigation, please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for York CID.
Or, you can pass information without giving your name to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
