Burglars steal ashes of dead dog

A family were left devastated after burglars broke into their Hester’s Way home and stole their dead pet’s ashes. Caroline Cleevely returned to her ransacked house, in Brooklyn Road, with six-year-old daughter Penny to find the intruders had made off with thousands of pounds worth of valuables.

But their most shocking discovery was the thieves had broken into a sitting room cabinet and snatched the remains of their dog Chelsea.

Caroline, 44, said: “We just cannot believe anyone would do this. They went from room to room and took everything or smashed it. They took things that cannot be replaced, but taking Chelsea’s ashes was the major blow for us.”



The ashes were kept in an small oak box which had a carving of a dog’s paw on the lid and a sticker with Chelsea’s name.

On top of it was a toy figure of a rough collie – the same breed as Chelsea – which was given to Penny as a present. The youngster, a pupil at Rowanfield School, said: “It’s really sad. I used to kiss it and carry it around.”

Caroline’s husband Christopher had hoped to keep the ashes safe for the rest of his life, and then be buried with them. The burglars also took the family’s televisions, computer consoles, mobile phones, cameras and their BMW car.