Embarrassed thieves who stole a dead mum's ashes have returned the urn after her family made an emotional plea.
Isobel Calderwood's remains turned up at the back door of Stephen Burgess' flat in Paisley on Friday, February 10, just hours after The Record reported they had been swiped.
Stephen's home was ransacked some time between January 30 and February 1, after he was evacuated due to a fire that broke out in a neighbouring property and he temporarily moved in with a pal.
Isobel's ashes were sitting on a shelf in the living room where Stephen had built a 'shrine' to honour his late mum, Isobel who died suddenly in July 2021. The family feared crooks had mistaken the urn for an expensive bottle of whisky.
But Isobel's son and Stephen's brother, Gari, 33, has now spoken of the their "relief" that she has been returned.
He told the Record: "My brother went to have a wee look around his flat and there was the urn sitting perfectly placed at the back door, along with some other items that don't belong to us but we're guessing have been stolen too.
"I think they must have seen the article as it's funny how it was literally the day after it was published that the urn was returned.
"It's definitely a huge relief we have her back, we did not think we would see the ashes again. We had just come to terms with the fact that the ashes were gone so it was a shock.
"It's still a disgusting thing to do even if they've brought it back. It's not something a normal person would do."
Although Isobel's remains have been returned, her urn has been damaged after the thieves seemingly broke into the cylinder to see what was inside.
The culprits may have also made another vital mistake. "There are two finger prints inside the cylinder so my brother is going to be reporting this to the police," Gari added.
A Police Scotland spokesperson previously 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."
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