Theft from child’s grave in Harrogate sparks business’s generous offer

North Yorkshire Police received a report at around 4pm on Thursday, May 21 about a small glass teddy being stolen from a child’s grave.

The police highlighted the theft at Stonefall Cemetry on Facebook when a West Yorkshire business made the generous offer to replace the bear at no cost.

Worth Valley Stone manufacture hand-made and hand-painted concrete memorial products that can be personalised.

Owner of the company, Chris Beddoes, said that he just wanted to make sure the parents still had a memorial for their child.

He said: “If the police can get in touch with the parents or the parents/ relations get in touch with me I will sort them out a personalised teddy bear at no cost to anyone.

“We do a lot of memorial stones and a lot of personalised teddy bears which are about 12 inches high.

“I just wanted to make one for the parents after theirs was stolen. It’s such an awful and horrible crime so I really wanted to make them a replacement.”

Chris’s comment on Facebook has been incredibly well-received with 85 people liking his comment and many others posting comments thanking him for the gesture.

However, Chris insisted his thoughtful offer was never meant for publicity and was surprised by the response.

He said: “I just wanted to help the parents after this horrible crime.”