Murrieta Thieves Stole Woman's Purse Containing Toys of Son Who Died

posted April 02, 2014 at 10:22 PM

MURRIETA, CA — After losing her baby boy last year unexpectedly, Ashley Norris says she didn't have much left to remember him, save a few toys she carried with her at all times.

While working out at the Murrieta LA Fitness this Monday, Norris did as she always did, and locked away her purse—containing those priceless toys—inside a locker. But when she came back from her exercise, something was wrong.

"I had locked my purse inside the locker, and at 11:45 a.m. I came back to a cut locker," she told Patch. "They did not cut the lock, they cut the locker, which I'm assuming was much easier to cut."

And though it's not desirable to have one's purse and belongings taken, Norris says she's only concerned about one thing.

"I couldn't care less about the purse and all the other contents, they are all replaceable, my sons toys are not," she said.  "The toys are the only things I really want back."

She says: 

Inside my purse, among other things, I carry my sons toys- a chain of colorful rings (you'll see them in the bottom right corner of the picture). 

His name is Timothy and passed away last March (2013) unexpectedly.  Our hearts have been broken since then. 

I carry his toys everywhere with me, in a way it brings me comfort knowing I have something of his that I always have with me. 

He played with and chewed on those toys everyday and I believe they helped his little teeth come in easier. 

It hurts my heart knowing someone either someone has them or has thrown them away.  It's all I really have. 

Norris says she's placed fliers all over the gym, but she's not sure how long they'll be left up.

On the flier, she asked whomever took the bag to please return the toys to the front desk, no questions asked.

One of the credit cards in her wallet was used shortly after the theft at a nearby gas station, according to Norris. 

Related: Newly Released Surveillance Photos of Suspected Thieves