Stolen Car Held the Irreplaceable: An Urn of Loved One's Ashes

A few blocks in a subdivision of quiet, curving, wooded streets in northwest Wauwatosa were hit hard one night, with at least four residents finding their cars had been entered and rifled, and a fifth finding his car missing all together – and along with it, his father's ashes.

On the morning of July 24, the owners began calling police with reports of stolen property from Raymir Circle, Raymir Place and Glenway Street, from the 4200 to 4400 blocks.

The neighborhood is bounded on the west and north by the Menomonee River Parkway, but on the east and south by Mayfair Road and Capitol Drive, respectively – making it both accessible and offering quick escape routes in any direction.

Police had already been called to two car entries nearby when, at 7:16 a.m.,
a resident of the 4200 block of Raymir Circle reported that his 2003 Hyundai Sonata was missing from his driveway.

He assured police the car had been locked, but no evidence such as broken glass was found in the driveway, and all keys were accounted for.

In the car had been some valuable personal property, including one he could not put a price on – his father's urn.

He also lost a Ryan Braun Brewers jersey (worth now perhaps less than the $50 he spent on it); another Brewers jersey worth $50; four tickets for the next day's Brewers game, value $150; and his wallet and contents including credit cards.

Before he could cancel the cards, one was used at a Citgo station at 8334 N. Appleton Ave.

The wallet, minus that card and the victim's driver's license, was found a short time later that morning by a neighbor, beside his trash can.

The car was still missing as of latest report, and police have no suspects or evidence.

The same night, in the same area:

• In the 4300 block of Raymir Place, two unlocked cars were entered and shotgun shells and change were stolen.
• Also in the 4300 block of Raymir Place, an unlocked car was entered and a pair of prescription sunglasses stolen.
• In the 4200 block of Raymir Circle, a car was entered and 75 cents in change stolen.
• In the 4400 block of Glenway Street, an unlocked car was entered and diamond earrings worth $150; $15 worth of change; a credit card (not used); and the owner's driver's license were stolen.