By Matthew Sims
A brazen daylight burglary has torn a Pakenham family apart, with the McGuire family requesting the return of son and father Ashleigh’s ashes.
On Friday 8 March at about 9.30am, two people allegedly broke into Gail and Bill McGuire’s home, taking their time to ransack the house for valuables, as well as the ashes of their son Ashleigh, who passed away suddenly on September 21, 2020.
Their granddaughter Kyla said both of them were out in the morning.
“My grandparents had gone out in the morning my Pop went to work and my Nan went to the shops,“ she said.
“Upon my pop arriving home around 10.30am, he saw the front door wide open but the security door still closed.
“He thought maybe my Nan had left it open, she got home not long after and they both realised no one had left the door open, they walked into the lounge room and my Nan broke into tears when she realised my Dad’s ashes were missing from the memorial shelf they sat on.“
Kyla said the alleged burglars stole a number of items from their home.
“They stole a range of things from jewellery and money for my Nan’s upcoming surgery, as well as loaded up two of my grandparent’s suitcases full of other things from the home,“ she said.
“The most precious thing of all that they took was my dad Ashleigh’s ashes.
Kyla said losing Ashleigh’s ashes had taken a “huge toll“ on her and her family.
“It has completely broken my family, words cannot describe the emotions we are feeling everyday, every day that goes past the more worried we get not knowing where my dads ashes are,“ she said.
“We have already lost him once and now we are losing him for a second time.
“We don’t care about any of the other items that were stolen all we care about is my dad’s ashes – the things they took are all replaceable my dad’s ashes aren’t replaceable.“
Kyla said the family was pleading to the alleged burglars to return her father’s ashes.
“Take them to a police station or drop them off at our door step in the middle of the night.
“This is the lowest of lows and if they have one shred of human decency left, they will bring my Dad back to us.“
Cardinia Crime Investigation Unit detectives confirmed they are investigating the burglary.
Police believe the unknown male and female gained entry to the property on The Parkway via an unlocked garage door between 8.15am-9.30am.
Police highlighted both offenders fled the scene on foot towards The Parkway playground after the burglary.
The female is described as Caucasian with black and red hair which may have been a wig and was wearing a black top, leggings, and white runners.
She was last seen walking down The Parkway pulling two blue suitcases that were also stolen from the address.
The male is described as Caucasian, tall, slim, with short facial hair, and a crew cut.
Male was wearing a black hoodie, black and white runners and was seen carrying a red and a black bag.
Of note the male has a Southern Cross tattoo on his lower right leg on the outside area of his calf.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dashcam/CCTV footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or file a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
