THE daughter of a recently deceased army veteran has spoken of her anger after her dad's garage was broken into days after he passed away.

Harold Brown died in hospital aged 88 on Saturday, June 10 leaving behind children Jane and Tony and two grandchildren.

He had lived alone in Grange Park since wife Eveline had passed away more than 30 years previously, before spending the last six weeks of his life in hospital.

Harold was a South Lancashire regiment veteran, having been to Sudan and Italy during his service, and had also worked as a doorman at Greenall's and for the council's park and gardens department.

Daughter Jane, 47, was horrified to find burglars had forced their way into the garage of his property, taking items including a mobility scooter and an army chest of high sentimental value, which contained tools.

"I had gone down there on Monday, June 19 and noticed the garage door was open," said Jane.

"The scooter was going to be donated to charity but the chest was his old army chest that he got when he was demobbed. It was full of old tools and it was of sentimental value.

"He was more garage proud than house proud. I just want to get some justice for him, he would have been absolutely livid. I just know how he would have reacted, he was so careful and all about security and everything was always locked."

St Helens Star:

The scooter which was taken was going to be donated to charity

The break-in happened before Harold's funeral had taken place, which was held at St Austin's Church on Tuesday, June 27.

Jane added: "I do believe it is someone who realised he had died, the house had been empty for six weeks before.

"I'm just shocked that somebody has done that. I just feel at the moment, with people pulling together across the country with the terrorist attacks, we need to look closer to home and get some community spirit back."

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said: "A break-in was reported just after 9pm on Monday, June 19. It is believed they entered between 5pm on Sunday 18 and 7pm on the Monday.

"It was a burglary at a residential garage and a mobility scooter was taken along with a paddling pool and some tools."

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

People can also contact Jane on 07418438589 with information on the whereabouts of the stolen items.