Cash offered for ashes
A MOTHER has been forced to relive the pain of losing her son after callous thieves stole an urn that held her baby’s ashes.
Makaye Burraston said she was at work on Friday when the offenders smashed a window at her Harlaxton home and helped themselves to her family’s property.
Along with cash, a PlayStation, headphone controllers, a laptop, tablet, car-keys and a digital camera, the thieves also stole several family heirlooms and a small silver urn that housed the ashes of Ms Burraston’s first son Slayde.
“He was stillborn at the 28week mark, but we didn’t get any answers as to why we lost him,” she said.
“Now it feels like we lost him twice.”
Ms Burraston offered a cash reward for anyone who returns the urn, saying it had exceptional sentimental value.
“We are just hoping someone will come forward and give my son back,” she said.
“We don’t care about the other belongings.”
The family suspects the thieves knew what they were taking because the urn was kept in a wardrobe and covered by a large plaque dedicated to infant Slayde.
They also made off with a set of wedding bands that were to be used for Ms Burraston’s upcoming wedding and a gold nugget ring that was handed down from her great grandmother.
Toowoomba police are investigating the matter and have been canvassing the area for witnesses and CCTV footage.
While Ms Burraston’s home had some CCTV coverage she suspected the offenders had planned the break-in as they had moved through the property in a way that avoided detection.
“The police have been working quite hard, they have been door knocking, and they are doing what they can,” she said.
It is hoped a cash reward will incentivise the thieves to hand the urn back as it was unlikely they could hock it at a pawn shop or sell it online.
“We are devastated and can’t imagine our lives without having Slayde close to us,” Ms Burraston said.
“Our hearts have been stolen, and we just want our son’s ashes returned.
“No questions asked,” Ms Burraston said. ANYONE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE BURGLARY SHOULD PHONE POLICELINK ON 131 444 OR CRIME STOPPERS ON 1800 333 000.