Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Thief steals donated cash during the wake as hundreds remember Luke’s life
Heartbroken Patricia’s grief was compounded when £100 donated to buy keepsakes for Luke’s daughter and unborn baby was stolen – during his wake.
The cruel thief crept upstairs to steal money from Patricia’s bedroom after she invited mourners back to her home to celebrate her son’s life.
“Not only have I been robbed of my son, I’ve been robbed of money that was going to his children,” she said.
“I’d just buried my son, I allowed someone into my home and they did this.”
Luke’s funeral was last Tuesday, with more than 500 mourners turning out to pay their respects at Canterbury Cemetery.
“It was enormous,” Patricia said. “It was overwhelming. We went back to the golf club and I didn’t want the day to end, I didn’t want to wake up the next day and it all be over, so I invited people back to my house. I said everyone was welcome.”
But the thief took advantage, swiping money that had been donated. “My sister and daughterin-law had wanted to raise some money for the children, for keepsakes,” she said.
“I’ve got Luke’s fingerprints and I was going to have them put on a necklace for them.
“There was a donation box at the golf club after the funeral with a beautiful collage of Luke and whatever was collected that day was brought home and my daughter-in-law took it upstairs into my bedroom.
“My aunt had given £100. I was in my bedroom talking about putting the money in the wardrobe and someone must have heard me,” she said.
“I don’t care if a million pounds suddenly comes through the door. I allowed someone into my house and they did this after I’d just buried my son.”
A family friend has set up a crowdfunding page which has already raised £830 to replace the stolen money. To donate visit http://bit.ly/2j89m1c.