'It was all we had left': Mother whose baby was stillborn makes an emotional plea to heartless thieves who stole a box filled with the only memories of her son
- Mother of a stillborn baby has pleaded for the return of a precious memory box
- Stolen box contains the only memories Natalie Bell has of stillborn son Benjamin
- Stolen from her car on highway in Victoria's Central Highlands early Sunday
- Green box with flowers on top has photos, blanket, teddy and ultrasound video
- Police are investigating theft and urge anyone with information to come forward
A heartbroken mother has made a desperate plea to the gutless thieves who stole the only precious and irreplaceable memories she has of her stillborn baby son.
Natalie Bell and her partner Cain Mouat were moving house when their car broke down between Smythesdale and Linton near Ballarat in Victoria's Central Highlands between 12.30am and 1am on Sunday morning.
The Skipton couple left their car on the side of the road and were horrified when they returned five hours later to find their vehicle had been broken into and four suitcases containing all of their possessions gone.
Among the stolen possessions was a treasured memory box containing photos, a blanket, teddy tear, ultrasound video, knitted bonnet and lock of baby hair, the only memories Ms Bell has of her baby son Benjamin who was stillborn in December 2006.
A tearful Natalie Bell (pictured) issued a public plea to the thieves who stole the memory box
A shattered Ms Bell posted a heartfelt public post on Facebook in the hope the memory box will be returned.
'The car is no longer going, we now have no car, no clothes, no shoes, nothing- they took it all,' the emotional post states.
'I need people to keep an eye out, these people took all that we own and some of those things can never be replaced.'
'That box was all I had left of my son please help me we lost everything. It's not even about the money. I'm heartbroken. I feel like my son has been taken from me all over again. Why are people so heartless, why.'
The devastated couple reported the brazen theft to police, who are investigating.
The stolen box (pictured) containing the only memories she has of her stillborn son Benjamin is the only stolen possession Natalie wants back
Natalie's car (pictured) was broken into in the early hours of Sunday morning after it broke down while Natalie and her partner were moving house
Police seized a wallet, screw driver and glove found at the crime scene.
Ms Bell has set up a Facebook page to raise funds towards getting her car fixed so she can continue the desperate search for the precious memory box, which is green with flowers on the top.
Ms Bell broke down in tears as she issued a public plea to the heartless thieves.
While the clothes, jewellery and tools can be replaced, the memory box is the only stolen possession she wants back.
Cain Mouat and Natalie Bell reported the callous theft to police, who are investigating
'If they do see this, don't throw it away, don't put it in the gutter, please,' a distraught Ms Bell told Ten News First.
Mr Mouat added: 'They can have everything in the car, they can have every single item that they've taken from the car, apart from that box. Just give us the box back.'
'If they do keep it, I hope it haunts them for the rest if their life.'
Anyone with information about the theft is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Natalie Bell took to social media on Monday with a public plea for the return of the box
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