Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au
Ashes stolen from Brisbane cemetery
Two shoebox-sized plastic containers of ashes have been stolen during a crematorium burglary at a Brisbane cemetery.
December 12, 2018
The ashes of two men have been stolen from a Brisbane crematorium hours before they were due to be interned.
Two shoebox-sized plastic containers of ashes, each of which had the dead men’s name taped to the top, were stolen from the Warrill Park Lawn Cemetery, near Ipswich, on Wednesday morning.
Detective Inspector David Briese said investigators aren’t sure why the thieves stole the ashes but the crematorium office was ransacked during the break-in.
“It could have been they were looking for money or anything valuable, and it appears having not found anything they have then taken the two containers which were sitting on a shelf,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
“Thinking, possibly, they contained different property than what they did.”
The containers had been taken from the crematorium safe in preparation for their internment on Wednesday, he said.
Det Insp Briese said the deceased men were 49 and 76-years-old when they died and he didn’t believe there was a link between them.
“Both local men and both local families,” he said.
Det Insp Briese said the families concerned were “quite distressed”.
“They’re asking, as we are, whoever is responsible if they can look inside themselves and have some respect for the families and the deceased men and return the ashes,” he said.
Det Insp Briese said he fears that once the offenders realise what they’ve stolen they may not treat the ashes with the respect they deserve.