Ferd Engels and his wife were defeated when a safe full of personal belongings belonging to their deceased son Wesley was stolen during a burglary at their home in Beek en Donk earlier this week. But now the story may have a happy ending. Wesley’s sister says on Facebook that someone has been arrested for the painful theft.
In the burglary last Tuesday, in addition to Wesley’s belongings, money and keys were also taken. “I don’t want those back, but I do want those photos of my deceased son,” said Ferd shortly after the robbery. “They shouldn’t touch that. Just throw them in the mailbox.”
The photos that Ferd means include how Wesley is laid out and images of the funeral. His parents have never seen the photos themselves. “We put them in the vault thinking we’d look at them when we felt the time,” Ferd said. “It’s really ours, my wife and me. You can’t imagine how much it hurts. It feels like we’re losing him again.”
“We are still hoping for the return of our stuff.”
An appeal posted on Facebook by Jennifer, Ferd’s daughter and Wesley’s sister, was widely shared. In addition, a report was filed with the police. The latter now seems to be bearing fruit. “Thanks to clear camera images, the police were able to quickly arrest the perpetrator,” Jennifer writes on Sunday.
That does not mean that the things have been found again. Although the family is not giving up hope for the time being. “We still hope for the return of our items of emotional value,” Jennifer concludes her message.