Marian Vrkic lost her 17-year-old son Phil in May last year and visits his grave at Keilor Cemetery most days.

About 5.45pm on January 28, Ms Vrkic and her younger son Adrian parked in Thor Court in Keilor East, near the border of the cemetery.

Keen to spend time with her son, Ms Vrkic jumped out of the car, leaving her handbag on the passenger seat.

"When we returned to the car, the front passenger window had been smashed and glass was shattered everywhere," she said.

"They had taken my beige Charlie Brown bag, it had everything in it and I was devastated.

"Usually I would put it in the boot. I guess I just thought it wouldn't happen there, I just wasn't thinking."

Inside her bag was her wallet, containing photos of her two boys and her parents; cards; money and her

camera.

"The camera card has photos from the past two years, it's got things like Phil's formal, basketball games, that kind of thing.

"I don't care about the other stuff, I just want that camera card.

"I can't tell you how much this is killing me.

"Why would anyone steal from cars parked near the cemetery, why hurt those who have already suffered so much?"

Phil was a promising basketballer, who, at 201 centimetres and playing the best games of his career, had a bright sporting future.

After playing basketball one night, Phil was on the way home in the car with his mum and brother when he started experiencing shortness of breath.

He died suddenly from heart complications.

"I still go to the cemetery all the time to see him," Ms Vrkic said.

"It's my time to have a cry and a chat with my son who is not here any more; I just miss him so much and those photos on my camera are my last memory."

Keilor Downs' Leading Senior Constable Dale Paterson said it was not uncommon for car robberies to occur close to the cemetery.

"Brimbank Park is close by and people often park there, there are sometimes robberies."

Ms Vrkic is urging anyone who has the camera card to post it anonymously to The Advocate, PO Box 740, Airport West, 3042.

Anyone with information can contact Keilor Downs police on 93653333 or Crime Stoppers on 1800333000 or visit their website here.