A grieving daughter from Newton-le-Willows says she is "devastated" after a suitcase containing charity donations, money for her mother's headstone and sentimental photographs disappeared from outside her home.
Sue McInally, 64, returned to her home on Johnson Avenue at around 4pm on Sunday, August 30, after spending months caring for her mum Margaret Shelcott, 86, who had suffered two strokes and died on July 13. The funeral was held on August 10.
Suitcase left outside home
As Sue was unloading several bags from her car, she believes she left the suitcase on the pavement or in the car. Inside was £179 in donations people had made to an animal rescue charity, £720 she needed for her mum's headstone, sentimental photographs, paperwork and clothes belonging to Sue.
She did not realise it was missing until the following morning at around 11am. When she checked, the suitcase and everything in it had gone.
'I was heartbroken'
Speaking to the ECHO, Sue said: "I had so much to unload - boxes, photo albums and all sorts of things - so that took me about 45 minutes. Because I'd been in the car for nearly four hours, I took the dog straight out, came back, had a cup of tea and went to bed. It wasn't until the following day, on Monday, when I went to look for it to unpack it and get my clothes. That's when I realised it was missing."
She added: "I don't even remember taking it out of the car, so I don't know whether it was taken from the pavement or taken from inside the car with the boot open."
Sue described the loss as another blow during a difficult time. She said: "I've had a really stressful couple of months and obviously had just buried my mum. I was heartbroken. I visited her every day in Lincoln stroke ward for six weeks, and she didn't wake up or speak to me. It was heartbreaking, traveling there every day knowing she wasn't going to speak to me, but knowing I couldn't not travel there. Then she went to a hospice for three days and passed away."
Plea for the suitcase to be returned
The £179 had been collected for a charity that looked after her mum's cat, which the charity did not know about. Sue said: "The £179 we'd collected for the charity, they didn't know I'd done that. If I'd already told them, I'd be mortified."
She also lost nearly £720 in an envelope intended for her mum's headstone, along with clothes, including the dress she bought for the funeral, and a picture of her mum and dad's wedding day.
Sue said: "I was upset, then angry, then more upset. I was devastated and really upset about the money, because there 20, 30 people at the funeral who all put money in in the belief it was going to the rescue that looked after my mum's cat."
She has searched the area with her son and friends, and contacted the police, but has had no luck. She is now hoping the suitcase will be brought back. She said: "I doubt very much the person who took it is going to give me the money back, but they could put the suitcase outside a shop somewhere, put it on Facebook anonymously, and I could go and collect it. At least I'd have my clothes back."
Anyone with information about where the suitcase is can email jamie.greer@reachplc.com.
