Thieves take jewellery of widower’s late wife
THIEVES smashed into a widower’s bungalow and stole jewellery belonging to his late wife - while he was in hospital receiving treatment for cancer.
William Reeves returned to his home on Two Trees Lane in Haughton Green, Denton, after his appointment and found it had been ransacked.
The kitchen and bathroom windows were smashed in, while glass was scattered throughout the building. The 73-year-old then discovered a gold ring and bracelet from a jewellery box in the bedroom were missing.
William, also known as Billy, estimates the items are worth around £1,000. But the pensioner said they hold far more sentimental value as they belonged to his wife Jean, who died of cancer in 2015. He was keeping hold of the items for his daughters.
Shortly after her death, the widower was also diagnosed with leukaemia, and at the time of the break-in he was receiving a platelet transfusion in hospital.
Police are investigating and William’s family are appealing for anybody who may have CCTV footage in the area to get in touch.
It is established the burglary took place at around 12pm on Tuesday, January 2.
They initially tried to get into the bungalow through the bathroom, but were unsuccessful so they then used a garden ornament to smash through the kitchen windows.
After crawling through the window they went into the bedroom and stole the jewellery from the box. It is then believed they escaped through a ginnel to the right hand side of the property, opposite The Cock Hotel pub. Officers have carried out searches of the building, but have not been able to find any fingerprints and believe the offenders were wearing gloves.
The bracelet is described as gold with a lock on the side, while the ring was gold and contains a green gemstone.
William’s grandson Andrew Reeves, 23, told the M.E.N.: “My grandad has been really ill. He had been at the hospital from 8.15am to 5.15pm, he was out of the house for most of the day and came back to the break in.
“We are looking for people who might have video footage, or pawn shops that might have seen the jewellery or it might be sold in a local pub. We think it must have been at least two people.”
A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers are investigating.