Investigation launched after dad's ashes stolen from heartbroken family's garage

22 September 2023 , 11:19

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Nigel, who died in January aged 72 (Image: MEN MEDIA)

Police have launched an investigation after a family have had their dad’s ashes stolen from their garage.

Sarah Hill’s dad Nigel died in January aged 72. He was cremated and the family from Bury had planned to scatter his ashes at the local Woodbank Cricket Club, where he was a much-loved odd job man.

But on the morning of Tuesday 19 September, Sarah received a call from her heartbroken mum telling her “your dad has gone”. A neighbour had warned her they had noticed her garage door appeared to have been prised open. In the early hours of Tuesday morning, thought to be around 4.30am, someone broke into the outdoor garage and stole a number of Nigel’s expensive power tools - and his ashes, that were in a light green box in a bag on the work bench.

The box and bag that Nigel's ashes were in when they were stolen (MEN MEDIA)

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Sarah said: "My mum opened the side door and the first thing she noticed was my dad's ashes had gone. Under the workbenches some power tools have also gone missing from locked cabinets that had been prised open.

"We don't know if they [the thief] looked in the bag or not. It was a rectangular light green box in a burgundy bag that we had picked up from the funeral directors. Every time I went into the garage I would say 'hi dad'. We are just absolutely lost for words. My mum called me and I could tell in her voice something wasn't right. She said, 'your dad's gone'. He was such a much-loved member of the community and everybody knew my dad in the area."

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Greater Manchester Police have said they are now investigating the 'unacceptable' theft and are appealing for any local residents or businesses with CCTV. PC Rhian Toland of GMP's Bury division, said: "This behaviour is totally unacceptable and we will work hard to find out the full circumstances and hopefully find the victim’s family ashes so we can return them to her. As you can imagine, the victim has been left terribly upset her home has been broken into and the ashes of her dad have been taken.

“I would like to urge anyone who may have information regarding the burglary, or has witnessed anyone acting suspiciously in the area, to make contact with us immediately so we can follow these line of enquiry and find out the full circumstances of this incident. Residents or businesses with private CCTV are also asked to check for anything that may be of relevance and make contact with us.”

Anyone with any information should contact police on 101, quoting incident number 2738 of 19/9/2023. Information can also be shared with the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

James Holt