Ashes of Collie woman’s parents swiftly recovered

Police successfully reunited Collie woman Veronica Peatling with the missing ashes of her parents this week.

Mrs Peatling and her husband Greg had been away on holiday before returning to find a pot plant containing the ashes had disappeared from their house on Shannon Way.

The pair reported the pot missing on Monday afternoon and after Collie police put a message on social media the ashes were returned to the station that night.

Mrs Peatling said it was a relief when she was called to be told they had been returned.

“I couldn’t believe they had gotten it back so quick,” she said.

“They told me they put it on the internet – which we don’t have – and apparently it turned up overnight. We don’t even know who put it back.”

Collie police Sen. Sgt Heath Soutar said the fast return was heartening.

“It should never have happened in the first place but at least whoever had it showed a good conscience,” he said.

“We see it as being a crime of opportunity – they would have just thought it was a nice looking rose.”

Sen. Sgt Soutar said the investigation had been closed unless further information arose.