Sometime overnight Tuesday someone smashed the right rear window to break into a silver 2009 Toyota Corolla parked in front of 645 Selby St. and took a black and grey Eddy Bauer suitcase containing sentimental items that likely can't be replaced.
Michelle Pearson, the car's owner, is still grieving the loss of her sister who died suddenly from complications of surgery Nov. 28. The stolen photos also included images of the sisters growing up together.
The suitcase also contained her sister's cellphone and a necklace set with five blue sapphires.
Stolen from vehicle, extreme sentimental value as it belonged to now, deceased sister, help us find it #Nanaimo pic.twitter.com/XptuDDT6ud
— Crime Stoppers (@NanaimoCS) December 17, 2014
Investigators found several teddy bears, which had also belonged to the woman's sister, and her son's clothing that had been taken from the car and scattered down Selby Street.
"In the Eddy Bauer suitcase were all the death certificates and cremations certificates and the last photos of her recently deceased sister in Saskatchewan," said Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.
An apparent attempt by the suspect to steal the car before fleeing with the stolen items, caused damage to the steering column that left the vehicle undriveable.
Pearson planned to return to her home in Campbell River, but has chosen to stay on in Nanaimo in hopes of finding her sister's documents and necklace.
O'Brien said the break-in and theft serves as a reminder that, especially during the holiday season when numerous vehicles are broken into in Nanaimo, vehicle owners must be certain to not leave anything of any value visible in their cars.
Police believe the person who took the suitcase was unaware of the sentimental value of its contents and will turn the suitcase in or have someone call and let investigators know where it can be found.
Anyone who knows where the suitcase and its contents is located, please call the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.