A Christchurch family has been left devastated after a grandfather's ashes were taken in a burglary.

A number of items were taken from a house in Cashmere between the 27 July and the 2nd August.

Mireka Clark said her family was saddened and shocked when they discovered an urn was among items stolen from her grandmother's home.

"Someone that isn't familiar with cremation or hasn't seen an urn before, maybe could think it's just an ornament. Other ornaments were taken so it may have just been caught up with that."

Clark is hoping when the people who took it found out just how important the urn is to the family, they'll return it.

She said both her grandparent's Plunket books were also taken, along with documents that would be worthless to anyone else."

"Along with urn in the bedroom, she (my grandmother) had a DVD player that was taken and in that DVD player was a DVD of the funeral of my poppa."

Clark is urging those who took the mementos to find a way to return them to the family or police.

Any one with information can call Christchurch police or arrange the return of the urn anonymously via Crimestoppers.