BEREAVED relatives were subjected to a shocking attack whilst visiting the grave of a popular teenager.

As reported in the Echo, 17-year-old Thomas Hardye student Keiron Clewett was found dead at home in August 2013.

His mother Miriam Smith and 78-year-old grandmother Clare Smith visited Poundbury Cemetery to lay flowers at his grave. But as they were leaving they saw a man smashing up their car.

Keiron's mother gave chase but says the offender jumped in to a waiting vehicle, making off with her mother's handbag.

The family has decided to share their story in order to warn other mourners in the hope that no one else falls victim.

Kieron's aunty Marisol Smith said: "As the cemetery gates were locked, my sister left her car immediately outside the gates. It was locked and the alarm was on. After leaving some flowers at the grave, they prepared to leave.

"Just at that moment, they heard a loud thumping noise and turned to see a man with some kind of heavy object in his hand smashing the car window.

"My sister gave chase but as she reached the pedestrian gate the man jumped into a waiting car which headed into Dorchester town.

"Sadly, not only was there a lot of damage and broken glass, but my elderly mother had left her bag under her coat on the front seat.

"This was stolen and she lost her wallet with the cash she had just withdrawn, mobile phone, prescription glasses, Disabled Blue Badge, rail card and bus ID."

Police are investigating the incident.

It is the second crime to be reported at the cemetery in a fortnight. As told in the Echo, grieving mum Jess Larder, 17, discovered her baby's grave had been covered in glue recently.

Officers would like to hear from anyone with information about either incident.

Marisol added: "What is so upsetting is that, given where the car was parked, the culprits would have known that its driver and accompanying people would have been visiting the cemetery. If they had found nothing in the car, would they have tried to snatch a bag from someone visiting the cemetery?

"There are often people, many of whom are elderly, up there on their own trying to seek some solace. I have warned my mother not to go to the cemetery on her own because of this incident."

The offender is described as young, white and wearing a hoodie.

It is thought he got in to a Vauxhall, which was possibly grey.

Anyone with information should call Dorset Police on 101 quoting incident number: 24:285