A DISTRAUGHT woman is appealing to the public for information about a burglar who broke into her home and stole items, including her father’s ashes, before driving off in the family’s car.

Karen Westell, 54, of Little Lullaway, Basildon, who works as a customer host, was absolutely disgusted by the burglar’s brazen actions. The theft happened last Saturday at about 3.15am.

The burglar, believed to have acted alone, broke in through the front door of the house. Ms Westell and her family were asleep in their rooms.

Ms Westell said: “It’s really awful when the thief took my dad’s ashes. The ashes were in my mother’s room, she was asleep when the thief walked in her room but it woke her up.

“The burglar probably thought it was a jewellery box. She only saw an outline because it was dark, and she thought it was my youngest daughter. She said ‘what are you doing, babe?’ When she got no answer, she followed the burglar out of the room and then realised we were burgled.

“When she went to my room to tell me the burglar must have already left through the front door. The burglar also ransacked our house, all the cupboards in the kitchen were opened.”

The burglar also took their car keys and then car, three handbags, with £100 and £10 inside two of them, and three sets of house keys.

Thankfully, the ashes were recovered on Monday evening near Yardley Park, Basildon, after a resident saw Ms Westell’s appeal on Facebook. The car was also recovered yesterday.

She said: “My mother was so distraught when dad’s ashes were taken. It was terrifying for her, she couldn’t sleep in her room afterwards so she had to go and stay at my brother’s place in Cambridge.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Police are investigating following a burglary at an address in Little Lullaway, Basildon.

“Someone gained entry to the property, conducted a messy search and stole a black Peugeot 107 along with other items.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Basildon police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”