Hunt for burglars who stole husband's ashes at widow's home

Detectives are hunting burglars who stole the ashes of an elderly widow’s late husband during a break-in at her London home.

The woman, in her eighties, returned to her property in Dovedale Road, East Dulwich, on April 9 to see two men running away from it.

She found they had stolen valuables including a diamond ring, a watch, a silver coin collection — and a cardboard box with golden rope handles containing the ashes of her husband who had been cremated three weeks earlier. Police say the burgundy cardboard box was inside a thick burgundy paper bag.

Pc Tom Stoodley, from Southwark police, said: “This burglary has left the victim extremely upset — not only because of the intrusion, but because her recently deceased husband’s ashes were taken.

“It is beyond comprehension how someone could be so callous and heartless as to steal someone’s cremated remains. We are determined to find the people responsible, and recover these ashes for our grieving victim.”

The men were described as being of medium build and with short hair. Both were carrying dark-coloured bags in both hands.

Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.