Glenda Haigh said the car had been a connection to her only child Alex Jugovic, who died in a car crash two-and-a-half years ago aged 22, and had his music and mementos inside. 

He had insisted on buying Miss Haigh a new car after another driver crashed into her car, writing it off.

“Maybe they’ll think twice; this is a gift from a child that died,” Miss Haigh said. 

“I just want him back, I want my son back and I can’t have him so these things to me, I’m holding on and holding on.

“People may say I’m being dramatic but they’ve never lost a child.

“They don’t know what it’s like to keep every single thing.”

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Miss Haigh still wears her son’s cross and keeps his car key on a chain. 

A second cross he was wearing when he died is kept wrapped up in paper. 

Among the CDs stolen with her car was the album from the song Miss Haigh buried her son to; Anthem of the Angels by Breaking Benjamin. 

“I can buy another CD but that was his CD, he bought it,” she said.

“I can’t remember what else was in the car that was his but I’m sure I’ll find out, silly things like his lighter, his pen that he used.”

Miss Haigh’s Subaru was stolen from Gillies Street.

She had left the car for just an hour-and-a-half while she went to an interview. 

She is still hoping someone will return the CDs and mementos.

Miss Haigh said the people from Ballarat Crimestoppers had been “amazing”. 

She said she wanted people to consider the hidden value of other people’s possessions. 

“I hope they spare a thought because they don’t know what they’re taking.  

“They don’t understand the stories behind people’s possessions, they don’t understand it might be some CDs but to me they’re everything.

“Just bring it back, put it somewhere, don’t care.”

Miss Haigh is not alone; as theft has spiked in Ballarat, numerous victims of crime have come forward to tell how what might seem from the outside like a petty crime has impacted their lives.

A family of five became housebound after their car was stolen with car seats and pram inside.

Another family lost $15000 worth of presents when their car was stolen.

Sightings of Miss Haigh’s car – a black Subaru Impreza hatchback, registration 1FA 4QK – can be reported to Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.