Heartless thieves have stolen treasured items that belonged to a nine-year-old boy who was killed in a horror dog attack. Tragic youngster Frankie MacRitchie died after being savaged by a Staffordshire bull terrier cross while left alone in a caravan four years ago.
His mum and the dog owner were later jailed over the incident. But Frankie's family say they have been has been left further devastated after crooks targeted the home of his dad Billy MacRitchie and took sentimental items that belonged to the schoolboy.
These included a silver trinket box that had Frankie's gold bangle and a baby tooth inside. Revealing details of the incident on Facebook, Frankie's dad Billy said his home in Plymouth, Devon, was raided on Wednesday, March 29, while he went for a rare day out to Exeter with his partner.
He said: "So, we go to Exeter have a really nice day, on the way back to the car we get a phone call from the police. They've got my flat surrounded as my neighbour has rang and reported a burglary.
"My front door window is smashed and they think that he's still in the flat. So armed response gain entry to my flat just as we pull up, only to find they have already made off with their loot.
"I'm gutted but I'm also offering a cash reward for any solid information. Cash, jewellery, watches, sentimental stuff from Frankie to myself all gone."
Frankie's auntie and Billy's sister, Danielle, also appealed for help in returning the stolen items and said they were desperate to locate the trinket box in particular.
She added: "Obviously all of it would be nice, but it is his (Frankie's) things we are most upset about."
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After revealing details of the thefts, the community in Plymouth rallied around Billy to offer him their support.
One said: "So sorry someone has done this. Lowest of the low touching Frankie's things."
Another said: "Taking sentimental stuff from Frankie, what's wrong with people. Hope you get it back."
While another local said: "Absolutely horrendous to do that, let alone take things that have no value to them but mean the absolute world to you."
An inquest previously heard Frankie bled to death at a holiday camp after being bitten "multiple" times on his head by a dog while alone in a caravan on holiday. His mum was in an adjacent caravan at the Tencreek Holiday Park in Looe, Cornwall, at the time and police were called just after 5am on Saturday, April 13, 2019.
The coroner was told that the cause of death was fatal loss of blood, caused by "multiple dog bites to the head". Frankie's mother Tawnee Willis and the dog's owner Sadie Totterdell were both jailed over his death in June 2020. The five-year-old American bulldog Staffordshire bull terrier cross, known as Winston, was destroyed.
Anyone with information about the robbery or know the whereabouts of the stolen goods, should contact Devon and Cornwall Police on 101, or email 101@dc.police.uk, quoting CR/50230072592.
