Dartford bereaved parents stolen baby items returned

A buggy with a distinctive leather-coloured handle grip was among the items in the stolen car

A toy and other items stolen from a couple whose baby son had died have been left outside a police station.

The items were inside a black Ford Fiesta stolen from Mead Road, Dartford on Wednesday, Kent Police said.

A red toy dinosaur, a buggy, a mirror and two car seats were left at North Kent Police station on Sunday evening, a spokesman said.

A blue, grey, green and black-striped blanket the baby had been wrapped in has not been returned, the family said.

The baby's father, who did not want to be identified, told the BBC the blanket was of great sentimental value to the family.

'Emptiness feeling'

He said: "I don't understand why they would choose to return everything else and keep the blanket.

"There is no reason for the blanket not to be returned."

He said the theft was "soul destroying" and had left the family with an "emptiness feeling".

A police spokesman said an investigation was under way to find out who had left the items outside the police station.

A red toy dinosaur that belonged to the baby was also in the car

Sgt Becky Jones previously said the theft had caused "a great deal of upset and distress for the whole family".

"These items are of huge sentimental value to the victim and the family would desperately like them back," she added.

Following the theft, the baby's father - who wants to remain anonymous - said: "It's that heartbreak feeling again... it's destroyed me."