A family's grief turned into greater heartbreak when, just hours before bidding their final farewell to a beloved Vietnam veteran, they discovered his apartment had been burglarized.
The devastating incident, which the family says occurred the night before Sergeant Patrick J. Jacobus's funeral, has left them pleading for public assistance to recover stolen items of immeasurable sentimental value.
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A heartbreaking loss
Sergeant Jacobus, a flight navigator on C-130 aircraft in Vietnam from 1966 to 1970, was laid to rest earlier this week. However, his family's mourning was multiplied when they discovered that his apartment at Stella at the Medical Center, located at 7009 Almeda Road in Houston, had been broken into.
The family says someone made off with valuable and irreplaceable items, including rare uncirculated coin collections, electronics, and, most devastatingly, all of his military uniforms.
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"This has been devastating for our family, but more than anything, we just want his military uniforms back," said his daughter, Anne Jacobus-Engelbrecht. "They represent his service and sacrifice, and losing them feels like losing another piece of him."
Caught on camera
Someone was captured on a Ring doorbell camera. The footage shows the individual casing the apartment and later covering the camera with tape. The family has provided Ring footage hoping that someone will recognize him and come forward with information.
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Call for Community Support
The family is urging anyone with information about the stolen items to contact the police immediately.
"Our father served this country honorably. We hope the community will help us honor his memory by recovering these deeply meaningful items," Jacobus-Engelbrecht said.
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How to help
If you recognize the individual in the photos or have any details about the stolen items, please contact the Houston Police Department.