Precious memories among stolen items

WESTBROOK – Pat and Sherri Kelley are relying on the kindness of a thief.

A burglar broke into the Westbrook couple’s home on Sunday, stealing their video camera, two laptop computers, a digital camera and some cash.

But the thief also took something irreplaceable: inside the video camera was a tape of the birth of the Kelleys’ triplets, who were born June 28. Several other tapes, which were in the camera’s case, included the birth of the Kelleys’ 2-year-old son, Dillon, and footage of him with his grandfather.

“There is no way for me to replace them,” said Pat Kelley. “They mean nothing to anybody but everything to Sherri and I.”

The Kelleys are hoping the burglar will have a heart and return the tapes. This week, Pat Kelley posted a large green sign on his mailbox begging the burglar to return them and promised he won’t ask any questions.

It is not entirely uncommon for burglars to take items of sentimental value during break-ins, said Westbrook police Capt. Michael Lambert.

But thieves will often dispose of such items close to the crime scene, he said.

“They could be anywhere,” Lambert said. “Whether we will be able to get these kinds of things back, I don’t know. That’s the tragedy of it.”

Kelley is hoping someone will anonymously mail the tapes to his home or send them to police. He had already used the tapes to help his eldest son adjust to being a big brother.

He hoped to show the triplets – Kade, Chase and Mitchell – the video of their birth when they got older.