Images of family heirlooms stolen by heartless thieves during a burglary in Wigan have been released by Greater Manchester Police.
Among the sentimental items taken during the break in on Longbrook in Shevington at around 5.30pm last Saturday was a gold wedding ring, which had been in the victim’s family for three generations.
Constable Steve Aspinall appealed to the public and pawnbrokers to keep their eyes open for the distinctive jewellery, which has a combined value of £2000, in a bid to return them to their owner.
“While the jewellery is valuable in its own right, it is the sentimental value of these items which makes the victim so desperate to have them returned,” he said.
“All of the stolen items belonged to the victim’s parents, who have now sadly passed away.
“The wedding ring in particular is of tremendous sentimental value, having been passed down through the family for three generations.”
The offenders gained access to the property by climbing over a garden fence from a footpath in Elnup Woods before using a conservatory roof to climb through a first floor window.
They then ransacked the house before fleeing through the same window with the stolen haul that also contained 12 commemorative coins, two gold necklaces and a gold Egyptian-style pendant.
Constable Aspinall added: “Fortunately this jewellery is quite distinctive, especially the Egyptian-style pendant, so I am hopeful that members of the public and pawnbrokers would recognise it if they came across it, or were offered it for sale.”
“I would ask that anyone who believes they have seen, or been offered, jewellery similar to those in the pictures will contact police and help us reunite the victim with her parents’ treasured possessions.”
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
