JEWELLERY from people who have died has been stolen during a sneak-in theft at a York funeral directors.

The thieves stole a safe containing jewellery and other personal possessions from Rowley & Sons at Dilston House in Lawrence Street from people who have died. They also took a projector.

North Yorkshire Police said the burglary happened between 8.30pm on Wednesday, May 18 and 9.45am on Friday, May 20.

"We are conducting inquiries and are requesting the public’s assistance to help determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident," said a spokeswoman.

Martin Rowley, who owns the business, said the thief almost certainly walked into the building on Thursday afternoon and gone upstairs, with staff believing they were going to offices operated upstairs by another business.

He said the intruder then must have gone into the funeral director's boardroom and gained access to a locked cupboard within which was a free-standing coded safe, and then have walked out with the safe and also a data projector.

"They probably thought there was cash in the safe but there wasn't," he said. "There was jewellery which did not have any great monetary value but was of great sentimental value to the families of five people.

"We have contacted the families and while they are distressed and upset by the theft, they recognise that we are the victims of crime as much as them."

He appealed to the thief to return the safe so the families could be re-united with their jewellery.

He said the funeral directors had always operated an 'open door' policy, believing that it would not be targeted by criminals in this way in a city like York, but people now had to press a bell to be allowed entry into the building.

"We are a family firm which has handled 450 funerals over the past three years and its the first time anything like this has happened," he added.

Police urged witnesses or anyone with information to get in touch by calling 101, selecting option 2, and asking for Jon Bostwick, emailing jon.bostwick@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk or passing information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting reference number 12160087874.