Artist asks for public's help in locating 'priceless' items after car stolen in Milwaukee

An artist has taken to social media in hopes someone can find her client's keepsakes after her car was stolen in Milwaukee.

A dozen teddy bears and two baby blankets have gone missing after Jacqueline Hughes' KIA Soul was stolen on Milwaukee's east side July 12.

Hughes is from Ottawa, Illinois, but was visiting her cousin in Milwaukee when her car was stolen. She was notified July 22 that her car was recovered, but her belongings were nowhere to be found.

On Saturday, July 13th at 12:16am, my cousin’s silver Kia Soul was stolen from Thomas and Murray on the east side. It...

Posted by Nicole Weeks on Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Facebook posts indicated the car contained Hughes' art supplies and "priceless memory items" that belonged to her clients.

Hughes makes memory bears out of old clothing. She had made 12 bears for a client in memory of their family member who had passed. She also had two baby blankets stitched by a grandmother, ready to be made into quilts.

"It's just heartbreaking. If you're going to steal the car, steal the car. But did you have to dump the stuff somewhere?" Hughes said. "I'm just devastated over it."

The bears were in a dark blue bag in the back seat of her car.

Hughes said her clients and the art community have been very supportive of the situation, but it doesn't bring her work back. She will be re-making the bears for the family, but has lost time, supplies and money.

"I am a full-time artist, this is traumatic on my budget right now," Hughes said. "I'm just distraught because I want that merchandise back."

Hughes thinks it was most likely teens or young adults that stole her car to go for a joyride. She said no car parts are missing, but everything that was in her backseat has vanished. She suspects it was dumped somewhere by whoever stole her car.

"People say this happens all the time in Milwaukee, well it has to stop," Hughes said. "I walked into art shop today and the owner came out and hugged me and I just balled again."

Hughes said her hope is that someone found the bears and baby blankets and will hear the news and come forward.

Hughes can be reached at jacquelineJoAnn@yahoo.com if anyone finds the items or has any information on the incident.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Artist asks for public's help in locating 'priceless' items after car stolen in Milwaukee