Family's appeal for help after burglars steal stepfather's ashes

Amy Garratt, aged 27, posted on social media saying the thieves broke into her house on Glebefields Road, Tipton, at about 12.15am on Sunday morning.

She said her dog was hurt and items taken included cash, bank cards, IDs, a Nintendo Switch belonging to her six-year-old daughter and a "black velvet beautiful bag" which had the ashes inside, and her white Ford Focus – which had her stepfather's death certificate and hand print inside.

Two men returned about two hours later but were chased off by family members, she added.

Amy has appealed on social media for anyone with information to come forward or for the thieves to hand in the ashes, death certificate and hand print, and has offered a £1,000 reward for information.

She has said the car has since been found, but police are still searching for the velvet bag containing the ashes of her stepfather, 58-year-old Martin McCandless, and other personal belongings.

Amy Garratt posted online saying: "Last night at around 12.15am on Glebefields Road, Tipton, I was broken into, the thieves have taken my daughter's Nintendo Switch, her birthday money which was in a little bag with a elephant on the front.

"Kev Bentley his wallet, cash, bank cards, ID, my ID, my car a white Ford Focus reg plate: AF15 YPV although I should imagine plates have been swapped, these are all material things but in my kitchen I have a bunch of roses on a chopping board with a candle and my late step father's ashes in a black velvet beautiful bag.

"I'm sure the robber thought it must have contained jewellery, it was his ashes, words can't explain the pain in my heart, the fear of every noise, the lack of sleep because I can't shut my eyes, the fact someone has came into my property whilst my daughter sleeps, taking our items, harming my dog, and above all taking my dad's ashes and in the car his hand print and his death certificate.

"To whoever you are, you have won, you have what you want, I only ask one thing please I beg you please, hand his ashes in along with his hand print and death certificate, you can take them to any police station, please find it in your heart to give me back something I can't replace, or leave it in a place and get a message where I can find it, please do this one thing.

"To think this is bad enough they had the cheek to return a few hours later in my back garden Kev and my brother Jack McCandless managed to chase them off but they sped off on two motor bikes my daughter is absolutely petrified.

"I would also like to state a £1,000 reward to anyone who can bring these people to me or inform me.

"Please share and help me find these people because they're just going to do it again and again, take care, a very heartbroken daughter."

She added: "We just want to continue searching, and if anyone has any information then please get in touch. If we find these people then we have more of a chance of getting our dad back home."

West Midlands Police said they are investigating a burglary at a house on Glebefields Road in Tipton just before 12.15am on Sunday morning, where personal belongings, electronic equipment, a loved one's ashes in a black velvet bag and a white Ford Focus car were stolen.

A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police said: "The stolen car has since been recovered, however, we are still urgently trying to trace the ashes.

"Enquiries continue and anyone with information is asked to contact officers via Live Chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am and midnight, quoting crime reference 20SW/108086V/20.

"Crimestoppers can be called anonymously on 0800 555 111."