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Distraught family begs for return of family ashes stolen during Queensland robbery

A Queensland woman says thieves stooped to the lowest level when they broke into her home and stole her mother's ashes.

The distraught family has spoken exclusively to Seven News, begging the heartless robbers to return their loved one's remains.

Waterford West resident Vicki Roberts lost her mum Phyllis to cancer eight years ago.

"I'm just so upset that someone would be low enough to take my mum's ashes," she said.

Phyllis was a much-loved mother and grandmother. Source: 7 News
Phyllis was a much-loved mother and grandmother. Source: 7 News

Her ashes were in a box on Vicki's coffee table.

When she returned home from her Christmas holidays on Tuesday afternoon, she found her house ransacked and the box gone.

"I promised her that I would look after her and I haven't," Vicki said.

Phyllis's daughter Vicki is distraught that her mother's ashes have been taken. Source: 7 News
Phyllis's daughter Vicki is distraught that her mother's ashes have been taken. Source: 7 News

Jewellery, cameras and two money tins were taken in the robbery.

The family believes the thieves most likely mistook the box of ashes for a money box.

The ashes were in a box similar to this one. Source: 7 News
The ashes were in a box similar to this one. Source: 7 News

"The other stuff can be replaced, but that can't," Phyllis's grandson Nathan Roberts said.

"She was everything."

Grandson Nathan said other stolen items could be replaced, but not the ashes. Source: 7 News
Grandson Nathan said other stolen items could be replaced, but not the ashes. Source: 7 News

Forensic officers have dusted for fingerprints as they search for the ashes and the offenders.

"She'd be angry, she'd be the kind of person who would come back and haunt them," Nathan Roberts said.

Forensic officers have dusted for prints at the ransacked home. Source: 7 News
Forensic officers have dusted for prints at the ransacked home. Source: 7 News

Vicki says she wants the thieves to have a heart and return the ashes, either by leaving them at a police station or on her front door step at night while she's sleeping - no questions asked.

"I would love to be able to go to sleep and wake up and she's back here," she said.