Red Deer RCMP are asking for the public’s help in recovering items taken in a heart-breaking theft.
Police said two suspects broke into a parked grey vehicle near 33rd Street and 47th Avenue about 5:50 a.m. last Sunday. Stolen was a suitcase containing the treasured personal effects and family mementoes of a 14-year-old boy who had recently died. They were contained in a large purple suitcase.
A search was made of the area but the suitcase has not yet been located.
Elissa Carpenter, a former reporter at CTV Calgary, suddenly and unexpectedly lost her son Evan, a few weeks ago after he suffered a brain aneurysm and died in a B.C. hospital.
Carpenter was in Red Deer on Sunday visiting her mother when her car was broken into, and items including the guest book from his funeral, items from the service and his favourite shoes were stolen.
Carpenter says they were the last memories she has of her son and she just wants the items back, no questions asked.
She says if the thief or thieves understand they stole the items from a dead child, she believes they might do the right thing.
Police ask residents living in the vicinity of 33rd Street, Kin Kanyon and the nearby trail system to check their yards and garbage cans for the abandoned suitcase or personal effects that may belong to the grieving family. Those using the trails are also to keep a lookout for discarded items.
Anyone in possession of this stolen purple suitcase is asked to drop it or its contents off at the downtown Red Deer RCMP detachment at 4602 51 Avenue or call 403-343-5575 to make arrangements to have it returned.
If you have information about this incident, please contact the Red Deer RCMP at 403-343-5575. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com.