They MUST be returned: Priceless pre-war jewellery stolen from Brisbane family
A distraught Brisbane mother was volunteering to help underprivileged kids and her house was raided by thieves.
They took every piece of jewellery Hazel Hillier owned, including rings and necklaces that were smuggled out of Germany by her Jewish family during the Nazi rule.
"Some were passed down four generations," Ms Hillier said to the ABC.
"I was in absolute shock. I just couldn't believe it.
"I'm devastated, especially since they're items the Nazis didn't get their hands on."
Her daughter, Dominique, said that many of the items that were stolen belonged to her mother and grandmother from pre-war Europe.
"And of course, include items that the Nazis did not get to steal, which was the fate of so much other Jewish jewellery."
The family have turned to the community Facebook page for help as well as calling local pawn shops, but police believe the break and enter was random.
There is still no sight of the priceless heirlooms a fortnight later.
"The majority of break and enters are opportunistic," a police spokesperson said.
"For your treasured belongings, especially jewellery, it is recommended to take photographs and file them so that you are able to assist police with returning your stolen items."
The Hillier family are hopeful that reaching out to the local community will help them recover some of the unique pieces of jewellery.
"I could have interrupted the thieves if I had returned home at my usual time … I don't even want to think about that situation," Ms Hillier said fearfully.
She currently has one ring left that thieves dropped on the floor.