The theft of the ashes of two Brisbane men from the Warril Park Lawn Cemetary has left two families devastated in Brisbane's south-west.
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Police said initial investigations suggested unknown offenders had entered an office at the crematorium on Anderson Day Drive about 3.30am on Wednesday at Willowbank.
The family of the two deceased men, who were not known to each other, have been notified of the theft.
A Warril Park Lawn Cemetary spokeswoman said a theft in the crematorium had never happened before.
"We were all shocked, everything is locked and our alarm system is always on," she said.
"We are thankful that one of our staff members live on site and came down straight away as soon as they heard the alarm to call police quickly.
"It's just absolutely disgusting that anyone would steal ashes.
"Hopefully with enough media coverage, the ashes can be dropped back to our door without any repercussions."
The spokeswoman said the business was regularly in contact with the two families of the men.
"They are heartbroken and understandably very distraught but everyone is doing the best they can so fingers crossed, we get a good outcome soon."
Detective Inspector David Briese said the office was ransacked and two containers of cremated ashes of two local men, a 76-year-old and a 49-year-old.
"At this point in time, we believe they were out of the safe in that office ready for internment to occur today," he said.
Inspector Briese said it was also unclear as to what the offenders were looking for.
"It could have been that they were looking for money or anything valuable," he said.
"Having not found maybe what they wanted, they've taken the two containers, thinking possibly that the two containers contained different property than what they did.
"Obviously our fear now is that upon finding what they are that the containers may not be treated with the respect they deserve. "
Inspector Briese said the loss of these ashes was very upsetting for the two families of the men.
"They're obviously quite distressed and are asking, as we are, that whoever is responsible if they can look inside themselves, have some respect for the families and the deceased men and return the ashes to us."
The containers were made of plastic, about the size of a shoe box and had name plates taped to the top.
Police are appealing for the safe return of the ashes and are urging anyone with further information as to their whereabouts to come forward.
