The Widow Of Pat Burns’ Car Robbed Outside Of Memorial

Added on Dec 01, 2010 by J Merrill in

NHL

The morning after her husbands service, and a few memorials, Pat Burns’ wife discovered her car was robbed. Her car had been broken into, and many of their belongings were stolen while it was parked in Montreal.

Montreal police said Tuesday the thieves would have known whose belongings they were taking, and they new exactly what they were doing. “They went through his stuff,” said Constable Anie Lemieux, noting Burns’ wallet was in the car. “The person who left with the shirts and everything knows that this is Pat Burns’ stuff.”

It was only hours after the funeral when someone took signed hockey jerseys from each of the 30 NHL teams, family photos, a designer men’s watch, two suitcases containing Burns’ and his wife’s clothes, an iPad, jewelry, and even bed sheets from the hospital’s palliative-care unit were missing.

Robin Burns, Pat Burns’ cousin, pleaded with the thieves, if they have “any type of conscience,” to drop the items off with a TV or radio station or with anyone who knows Burns…and no questions would be asked. “Whoever it is, they must have no conscience,” Burns said. He also referred to the crime as “deplorable!” He concluded “I’d only say to anyone listening, if you think you can sell them or do anything about them, then I think the police and the policemen’s brotherhood and friends of Pat might have different ideas.”

The crime was committed at an outdoor parking lot between midnight and 9 a.m. Tuesday. The Burns family and many friends had attended a wake in a downtown bar Monday night after the funeral. “Anyone with information or that might be approached by someone wanting to sell these items, it’s impossible not to know that these belong to Mr. Pat Burns,” Lemieux said, noting she believed some were destined for a charity auction.

The entire roster of the New jersey Devils were on hand for the service honoring the police officer turned hockey coach. Pat Burns also had successful seasons in Montreal, Toronto and Boston. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and Quebec Premier Jean Charest were joined by stars such as Ray Bourque, Patrick Roy, Tie Domi and Luc Robitaille.

Pat Burns passed away about 2 weeks ago after a long hard fight with cancer that eventually claimed his life. He retired in 2005 when his illness started to affect his ability to be an effective coach. He coached over 14 seasons between 1988 and 2004, he achieved a record of 501-350-161-14 in 1,019 games with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, and New Jersey Devils.