Family heirlooms gone in an instant
KIM Rochelle-Brown had planned to hand the jewellery she inherited from her mother and grandmother to her own daughters.
But last Friday heartless thieves shattered that dream when they broke into Ms Rochelle-Brown’s Hope Island home, ransacking her drawers and making off with a massive loot.
More than 20 pieces of jewellery were taken, many of them antique pieces handed down over the years.
A heartbroken Ms Rochelle-Brown said the jewellery was worth about $25,000, but the sentimental value was far greater. She said she would pay a substantial reward for the safe return of the beloved pieces.
“It happened some time between 10am and 1pm on Friday, February 17, while I was at the gym,” she said.
“At first I didn’t notice anything, but I was going out that night and when I went to get ready my drawers had been rifled through and all the jewellery boxes were empty.
“Some pieces that belonged to my mother and grandmother were Welsh gold from 1912. It is rare and irreplaceable. The mine where it was found was closed in the 1990s. We recently lost my mum, so this has been a big hit ... I had planned to pass the jewellery to my daughters, but now it’s all gone.”
Ms Rochelle-Brown has appealed to Gold Coasters to keep their eyes peeled for the missing items.
“Whoever stole them will probably try to sell them and the pieces are very distinctive. If I could just get some of them back it would mean the world,” she said.
An iPad, camera, rings, a unique gold charm bracelet and necklaces were taken in the daylight break-and-enter.
Coomera Senior Sergeant Andrew Godbold said police were investigating the breakin on North Quay Circuit and eight others on Hope Island this month. “There has been a string of break-and-enters in the Hope Island area (this month),” he said.
“We are investigating them all, but in the meantime we urge people to be vigilant – make sure all doors and windows are locked and look into home security.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Policelink on 131 444. Ms RochelleBrown said she would pay to have her items returned and asked anyone with information to contact her on kimc@onthenet.com.au HELP COPS CRACK MORE CASES IN ON THE BEAT, P10