The widow of former Police media officer Coleman Easton has suffered further heartache after thieves broke into the house where she was staying while on the Island to attend his funeral service.

As Helen Easton slept, a sturdy door to the property was smashed open in the early hours of yesterday and her bag, containing her passport, daughter?s birth certificate, camera, driver?s licence and credit cards, was snatched. Mrs. Easton had been staying as a guest at the home of Det. Con. Laurence Fox, having attended the funeral of Mr. Easton the previous day with her daughter Alexandra, 15.

She was paying her last respects to Mr. Easton, a well-liked media professional who was a former employee and Police press officer who was found dead at the age of 35 in Pembroke on October 17. His funeral was held on Monday.

Around 6 a.m. yesterday Det. Con. Fox heard a loud crash at his home in Victoria Road and on investigating discovered that a large stone had been used to practically destroy the back door and gain entry. ?They must have realised someone was going to get up so they grabbed the first thing they saw,? said Det. Con. Fox.

The item taken was Mrs. Easton?s small black bag with gold-coloured handles lying on a table.

There was no money in the bag and the credit cards were cancelled immediately.

But the theft caused more problems for Mrs. Easton as she was not able to board her Delta Airlines flight back to Atlanta to make a homeward connection to Canada as she had lost her passport and photo identity.

That has now been taken care of by the Canadian consul for Bermuda, and she and her daughter are expected to leave today on a direct flight home. Det. Con. Fox said: ?It has cost her $1,200 to get another plane ticket and she has needed to take an extra day of leave from work.?

He is appealing for help to find the missing bag, which contained a money wallet that has sentimental value and her passport and personal papers. Anyone who finds the bag or any of the items is asked to call the Police.