'Priceless' items belonging to MH17 victim stolen in Victoria

Jewellery and religious artefacts that belonged to a nun who died in the MH17 plane crash have been stolen in a Melbourne burglary.

Religious items belonging to Sister Philomene Tiernan, who was killed in the MH17 air disaster. The items were stolen from a home in Richmond between 13-18 June 2015, with police appealing for information. (AAP Image/Victoria Police) Source: Victoria Police

Treasured keepsakes that belonged to a nun who died in last year's MH17 plane crash have been stolen from a Melbourne home.

Heartless thieves ransacked an apartment in Richmond earlier this month, stealing personal items including treasured religious articles and jewellery that belonged to Sister Philomene Tiernan, who died when the Malaysian Airlines flight was shot down over eastern Ukraine last year.

Sister Philomene carried the items with her throughout her life as a Catholic nun and they were recovered from the crash site and returned to her sister by Malaysian Airlines just a few months ago, police say.

"These items are priceless in the eyes of this poor family but would mean almost nothing to the offenders ," Detective Senior Constable Andrew Luke said.

"It's heartbreaking for this family to have to go through something like this and now suffer even more."

The items were stolen between June 13 and 18 when the occupants, including Sister Philomene's sister, were on holiday.

Police are appealing to the thieves to drop off the items to a police station or for anyone with information to come forward.