Photo of the stolen jewellery / Supplied

9PM: FOUND / Update: After this article was published, the stolen items were found close to the jeweller’s home. The thieves reportedly confessed to a jailed relative, who then facilitated their return.

A Christchurch woman is urgently appealing for the return of a stolen parcel containing jewellery crafted from baby ashes.

The theft occurred on Doreen Street in Aranui, between 9:30 and 10:00 on a Friday.

Three Little Birds owner Moreen Sackree, who experienced the loss of triplets at 20 weeks in 2021, found solace in creating cremation, breastmilk, and keepsake jewellery to support others grieving similar losses.

“I learnt how to make jewellery in a bid to honour my babies and help others,” she said, emphasising the personal significance of her work.

She recently crafted a band incorporating a customer’s baby’s ashes, which was to be returned via mailbox at the customer’s request.

But within 30 to 40 minutes of placing the parcel in the mailbox, which also contained remaining ashes, it was missing.

Despite the presence of neighbours and Sackree’s sister at home at the time, no one witnessed the theft.

Expressing deep empathy, given her own loss, Sackree is devastated.

“I’m absolutely gutted. It’s gut wrenching knowing something that is so precious and irreplaceable was taken from my property.”

Sackree is pleading for the thief to anonymously return the parcel to her mailbox, assuring “no questions asked,” in hope of restoring the irreplaceable piece to its rightful owner.