Son's plea for mum's ashes after thieves steal urn 'mistaking it for whisky bottle' in Paisley break-in

A “heartbroken” son has pleaded for his mother’s ashes to be returned after they were stolen during a flat robbery in Paisley.

Isobel Calderwood’s remains were among the items taken from her son’s empty home in Ferguslie between Monday, January 30, and Wednesday, February 1, after he was forced to relocate temporarily following a fire in a neighbouring property.

It is believed the urn, which was sitting on the living room shelf, was mistaken for a bottle of high-value whisky.

Gari Burgess has pleaded for the return of the ashes, saying it feels like he has “lost his mum and best friend all over again” following her passing in July 2021.

The urn was mistaken for a bottle of whisky.

He told STV News: “My brother’s upstairs neighbour’s flat went on fire and the council put my brother in a guest house. They secured the front door but not the back window.

“Some low-life thieves broke in and stole everything including my mum’s urn. We only want that back as it’s my mum’s body.

“Its heartbreaking. We are at a loose end and it feels like we have lost my mum and best friend all over again.

“I still haven’t got over my mum not being here.”
Gari Burgess

“I still haven’t got over my mum not being here.

“We want our mum’s ashes back. Whoever did this has no heart as this is our mum’s remains.

“Do the right thing, it’s our mum and no one else’s. Leave them somewhere to be found.

“This is destroying us.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers are investigating a report of a housebreaking on Ferguslie, Paisley, which is thought to have happened between Monday, January 30, and Wednesday, February 1, 2023.

“Enquiries are ongoing.”