Townsville crime: Cancer survivor Richard Griffiths’ plea for stolen family heirloom

A ‘priceless’ family heirloom has been stolen from an 80-year-old three-time cancer survivor during a heartbreaking home invasion in Vincent. Here’s what the thieves took.

A ‘priceless’ family heirloom has been stolen from an 80-year-old, three-time cancer survivor during a heartbreaking home invasion in Vincent.

Police are investigating after thieves broke into a home to steal money and valuables from elderly residents at St James Retirement Village at about 9pm on Saturday.

Resident Richard Griffiths, 80, said the thieves broke in through his bedroom window while he was watching television with fellow resident Judith Fielding.

The walker-bound retiree said he was lucky to avoid a confrontation with the intruders because he would have easily “been at their mercy” in his frail state after surviving a malignant brain tumour and prostate and bladder cancer.

Cancer survivor Richard Griffiths, 80, has put out a plea for the people that stole his precious family ring from his bedroom to return it. Picture: Natasha Emeck

But Mr Griffiths said he was “heartbroken” to discover his precious family heirloom, the amethyst ring his great-grandfather brought over from Wales, had been stolen in the night.

“The Griffiths family ring has been passed down to the oldest son in our family for the last four generations,” he said.

“I was devastated because I was so looking forward to giving it to my son.

“It won’t mean much to these thieves who took it, a couple of bucks maybe, but it means the world to me. It’s the only family heirloom we have.”

Mr Griffiths urged anyone who may have seen the stolen ring to contact them or drop it off at the retirement village.

Mr Griffiths said his stolen ring had a silver band and round almost-clear amnesthest stone.

“I just want it back, no questions asked,” he said.

Ms Fielding’s said the thieves also stole a few of her belongings, including a new phone, her wallet and some jewellery.

She said other residents in the retirement village had seen a group of about four youths “scoping out” their home around the time of the break-in.

“They also tried to break into a few other homes nearby but it doesn’t look like they had any luck,” she said.

“I’m definitely a bit rattled after what happened. I dread to think what would have happened if we had been in our bedrooms and interrupted them when they broke in.”

Mr Griffiths said his stolen ring had a silver band and round almost-clear amethyst stone. 

Originally published as Townsville crime: Cancer survivor Richard Griffiths’ plea for stolen family heirloom