A Western Sydney family have made a plea for the return of some of their most precious possessions after they were abruptly sold at an auction.
Sarah-Jane Elias, had moved more than 30 boxes of their belongings into a storage facility while their home was being renovated.
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However, after the family’s credit card was stolen, they accidentally fell behind in their payments.
Sarah says she was told they’d get a call from the storage company to organise paying another way but the call never came.
And then they found out this week their personal items were sold at an auction in an online bidding war on June 26, for just $1300.
“It was completely devastating,” Sarah told Sunrise.
“I think we were just in shock … we cried, and we screamed, and we were just calling out, ‘that’s all our stuff’.
“It just it didn’t feel real.”
All of the priceless possessions in the storage unit from the girls’ first dresses to their hospital bracelets and precious toys were sold at the auction.
Sarah’s daughter Ailta Elias told Sunrise she and her sisters were “completely devastated”.
“When mum read it had been auctioned off, all our hearts just shattered into a million pieces,” she said.
“To be in this house our whole lives and every cupboard you open … every draw there are always things there, now it’s like all our childhood memories have been taken away.
“It is really hard.”
Sarah added she believed the bidders didn’t realise the sentimental value of the items or they would not have purchased them.
“We’ve lost family heirlooms, gifts, things that are irreplaceable and are so precious to us,” she said.
The Elias family are pleading with anyone who may have come into contact with their belongings to get in contact with them.
“We will pay you double or triple … you can have what you want,” she said.
“If you need anything … we are good people and generous people and we don’t want to take anything from your just please bring us back our precious things.
“Just give our memories back, please.”
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