A £10,000 bronze statue was stolen from a man’s grave last week, leaving his widow in tears and ruining the family Christmas.

The statue of the Divine Mercy, almost certainly stolen to be melted down for its scrap metal value of just £250, was a memorial to father-of-two Peter Aggozino, who died of an aneurysm aged just 35 in 2000.

Widow Carmella Aggozino, 46, of Franciscan Road, Tooting, and children Ferdindo Aggozino, 24, and Giuseppina Aggozino, 16, are appealing for members of the public to come forward with information.

Mrs Aggozino said: “It is terrible, it has ruined Christmas. He was really young, his death was a shock.

“How could anyone go into a cemetery and take something like that? I have been crying ever since and I cannot sleep, it is just terrible.”

The 2ft statue was last seen at London Road Cemetery, Mitcham, on Tuesday by Mr Aggozino’s parents, who visit their son’s grave every day at 11am.

A Merton Council spokesman said: “The council’s London Road Cemetery team noticed it was missing during their shifts on Tuesday and it was immediately reported to the police. Council staff are being extra vigilant in light of these thefts.”

Metal thefts are on the increase in the area, with a metal water heater being taken from the toilets of Merton and Sutton Cemetery earlier this year and lead from the roof of the chapel.

Lavender Fields safer neighbourhood team are investigating and have been talking to families, visitors and staff in the cemetery.

Sergeant Andy Ball, Lavender SNT said: "I am shocked that someone has sunk so low to steal items from a cemetery, causing grief and distress to a family, especially just a few weeks before Christmas.

“We won’t hesitate to arrest any suspect or follow any leads.”

David Terry, a worker for ABC Scrap Metal, in Parma Crescent, Battersea said the statue would only fetch thieves about £250.

He said: “The police go to the big buyers that buy the metal in when they hear of a theft.

“They have got cameras and registration, if we see the metal they are looking for they will find out who it is.”

Father Christopher Basden, parish priest of St Bede's Catholic Church, in Thornton Road, Balham condemned the theft saying: “It is very sad. We have had to replace lead tiles on our roof too.

“It is very sad and frightening. For elderly people, it is devastating. You have already had the devastation of bereavement – we obviously condemn it.”

The statue is a replica of the Divine Mercy statue in the Vatican and was flown in specially from Milan.

Your Local Guardian: Bronze statue costing thousands stolen from man's grave

It weighs about 100kg (220lb) and is made of solid bronze. Two flower vases and candle holders were stolen from the grave at the same time.

Anyone with information can contact Lavender Fields SNT on 101.