Grieving family appeal for help after jewellery worth £10,000 goes missing from home of elderly gran

The grieving family of a grandmother who recently passed away are appealing for help after discovering that more than £10,000 worth of her jewellery has gone missing.

Joyce Davies died at the age of 90 at her home in Gorton last month. She was born in the town, and worked for Marks and Spencer in Stockport for 45 years.

Mrs Davies and her late husband Edward also used to run a stall on Grey Mare Lane market. She lived independently and remained at home until her death.

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She was looked after by family including her granddaughters Carol Nolan and Rachel Davies, and neighbours also looked out for her. The pair discovered their grandma when she had passed away at her home on Forber Crescent on October 22.

But Carol said that she found that expensive jewellery, which her grandparents had collected throughout their lives, had gone missing. She fears it may have been stolen by someone who had 'befriended' and taken advantage of her in her final months.

Carol has issued a list of the jewellery which has gone missing. She has called in the police, but says she is open to having the jewellery returned anonymously. Greater Manchester Police confirmed that officers are investigating.

"My nan was a working woman all her life," Carol told the M.E.N. "Her and my grandad were quite middle class considering they lived in Gorton.

"I think in those days gold was a massive thing. I think they have built up a little bit of a collection over the years.

"My grandad passed away in 2015, and then she has very much been on her own and independent. She wasn't really ill. We were worried about her, she was going out walking in the street, but we never got a diagnosis."

Carol said she and her sister found her grandma after she had passed away at home. "She basically died of pneumonia and heart failure," she said.

"I knew where this gold was, the last time I checked was about three months ago. But when she went to check on the jewellery box she discovered it had gone.

"It has been sad that it has gone within the past three months of her life. We think maybe someone has befriended her and potentially gone in.

"She was very proud of her possessions. She might have said 'look at this' and someone has clocked it. It has definitely been stolen while she was alive."

Carol says that the jewellery is of great sentimental value, including an inscribed watch which Mrs Davies received on her retirement. She hopes that her public appeal will persuade anyone who has the jewellery to hand it back.

She said: "I am hoping maybe someone gets a bit twitchy if they have got that in their house. You would think people would have morals with it being an old lady. Anyone could have taken advantage of her."

Carol says the following jewellery is missing:

• Three South African Gold Rands
• One large Charm Bracelet with large charms
• Two to three 18CT Gold Rings
• One Pre Victorian 18ct Gold Necklace
• One Link Bracelet with a lock and key type class
• One 18ct Gold Watch
• Two to three Male Watches of large value 1950's/ 1960's style
• Two Mens sovereign rings
• One 18CT Gold Sovereign Necklace

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: "We have received a report of a burglary on Forber Crescent in Manchester and are currently investigating the circumstances. Anyone with any information is asked to contact police via 101, quoting log number 1108 of 01/11/24."