A TERMINALLY ill mother says she is devastated after thieves stole treasured memories of her stillborn son.

Kristy Lane reported the burglary at her family home in Crawley Down near East Grinstead earlier this month.

In a Facebook post, the 44-year-old lawyer said she had put jewellery in the memory box for her nine-year-old daughter’s future birthdays.

The box also contained memories of her son George, who was born stillborn at 35 weeks 13 years ago.

But thieves had rifled through the box, stealing an iPad and the handmade jewellery.

Ms Lane was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary hypertension and was told she only had one year left to live in 2010.

While she has had transplants, she remains very ill and unlikely to see some of the major moments of her daughter’s life.

She said: “They went through my son’s memory box and totally tainted the few items I had of his. I am desperate for the men to be caught. Someone must know something.

“This is more than just a few items and anyone who has suffered the loss of a child will understand the pain.

“I don’t feel safe in my house especially as they took three pillowcases off the bed and therefore even touched the pillows on my bed.

“I have fought to be alive and will not see important events in my daughter’s adulthood. As a result of the above I had handmade jewellery to give to my daughter at important stages of her life.

“It has caused so much hassle and prevented my ability to rest.”

Forensics officers went to the property in Turners Hill Road and say the break-in has been linked to other burglaries in the village of Ardingly, six miles away.

Ms Lane has offered a £5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the burglars and the return of the items.

The items were made by Barbara Tipple and each piece was therefore unique. Ms Tipple said: “These thieves steal stuff and sell it for a pittance.

“It’s the emotional value. It’s devastating.

“Each little piece of jewellery meant something for her, and is totally irreplaceable.”

Police said they are investigating reports of a burglary in the area on March 4 between 5pm and 7.30pm.

A spokesman said: “The intruders stole a large quantity of property including jewellery and a memory box, which has sentimental value to the owners.”

Ms Lane said two men were seen by neighbours in the area, one was a black man in a green coat, the other was a man with olive skin.

Witnesses or anyone with information is asked to report it online or call 101 and quote 1064 of 04/03.