Culcairn’s Jo Brown-Jerrick told The Daily Advertiser of her grandmother’s “heartbreak” after her Ashmont home was broken into and her most cherished possessions stolen while she slept.

“They stole her jewellery, her mother’s wedding ring and most importantly an opal pendant that was given to her by her son, who died from a brain tumour,” she said. 

“It is absolutely devastating for her; these important items meant the world to her and having them stolen has left her shattered.”

It comes after yet another spate of weekend break and enters, which saw four houses and cars burgled. 

Locals on the Wagga Neighbourhood Watch Facebook page told of hearing car alarms, dogs barking and commotion in the very early hours of Saturday morning. 

Wagga Local Area Command inspector David Abercrombie confirmed the break-in on Tobruk Street, labelling it as a “low act” that showed nothing is off-limits to desperate criminals. 

"There's no doubt that the sentimental value of these belongings would be much greater than the monetary value but unfortunately these thieves will just take whatever they see,” he said. 

Police have had the property examined by forensics.

The weekend spike in theft came just two weeks after the conclusion of Operation Assure, which saw crime levels decrease.