CALLOUS thieves have targeted the grave of a Moray teenager who was killed in a car crash more than a decade ago.
Steven Fraser – who was known to his friends and family as Stevie – was just 18 when he died in 2002.
Animal statues and a stone floral tribute have been taken from his graveside in Elgin Cemetery – and they all have special significance for his heartbroken relatives.
His mother Jeannie, 71, said last night: “When he was growing up Stevie was always asking if we could get a collie dog, but I always said no.
“That’s why I put ornaments of collies at his graveside.”
The first theft involved an 18in stone statue of a collie.
Mrs Fraser, who visits her son’s immaculately tended graves every day, said: “It was really heavy. There’s no way a child could have carried it away.
“Whoever did this must be sick. They are certainly old enough to know better, and to know the anguish it would cause.
“I felt like sobbing when I saw it had gone.”
Mrs Fraser immediately bought a replacement but it also went missing, along with a stone floral ornament.
The thieves then struck for a third time, taking two smaller collie statues.
Mr Fraser’s sister, Denise Smith, 48, said: “My dad walked round the whole cemetery the day after the first theft.
“We thought someone might have just picked up the dog and thrown it away somewhere else but there was no sign of it.
“There are plenty of graves around here. I don’t understand why we are being targeted but we all want it to stop immediately.”
Mr Fraser was a front-seat passenger in a car which careered out of control on the A96 Elgin-Forres road near Alves in August 2002.
The vehicle ploughed through a fence and ended up in a field.
He was taken to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin but died from his injuries.
The 19-year-old driver of the car was later sentenced to four years detention for causing death by dangerous driving.
Mr Fraser owned and ran the Burger Box, a mobile snack bar which he bought from his sister, Denise.
It was located at the Tyock Industrial Estate in Elgin,
The words “ching ching” are now inscribed on the former Elgin High School pupil’s gravestone.
Mrs Fraser explained that this was a special phrase her son would use whenever he left the family home in Beechfield Road, Elgin.
“They were the last words he said to me on the day he died.
“We all miss Stevie very much. He was a lovely easy-going lad.
“We’re asking whoever is doing this to think about what they have done and to stop it now.”
A Police Scotland spokeswoman confirmed that the thefts were being investigated.
She added: “We would appeal to anyone who has any information to come forward.”