A funeral urn containing ashes was found in a Benidorm supermarket locker. Local police are searching for the family. If unclaimed, the urn may be moved to the municipal cemetery.
An unusual incident in Benidorm has prompted a police search for the relatives of a deceased person after a funeral urn containing ashes was discovered abandoned in a supermarket locker. The find was reported on Monday morning, when the store manager, during a routine check of customer lockers, came across the urn and immediately notified the Policía Local.
According to the police, forgotten items such as keys, wallets, or phones are common, but the discovery of a funeral urn is highly uncommon. The authorities have since launched efforts to identify the family connected to the urn, sharing an image of the container on social media and appealing for public assistance. Their message underlined the sensitivity of the situation, noting that behind the urn is a story and a family likely experiencing distress.
Policía Local spokesperson Quique Tortosa confirmed that officers are actively working to trace the relatives of the deceased. So far, no one has come forward to claim the ashes. The police have called on anyone who believes the urn may belong to them, or who knows someone searching for it, to get in touch. If the rightful owners cannot be found, the urn will be transferred to the municipal cemetery for safekeeping.
This case highlights the rare and delicate nature of such discoveries in public spaces. While supermarkets often deal with misplaced personal items, the presence of a funeral urn raises unique challenges for both staff and authorities. The incident also draws attention to the procedures followed by local police in handling sensitive lost property, especially when it involves human remains.
Similar incidents involving unexpected finds in public venues have occurred elsewhere in Spain. For example, a recent event at a Madrid shopping centre required evacuation after a fire was linked to a shoplifting suspect, as detailed in this report on a supermarket evacuation in Madrid. While the circumstances differ, both cases underscore the importance of swift action by authorities and the role of public cooperation in resolving unusual situations.
In Spain, the handling of unclaimed funeral urns is typically regulated by municipal authorities, who may transfer remains to a cemetery if no family is identified. The Benidorm case serves as a reminder of the protocols in place for lost property and the need for sensitivity when dealing with items of personal and emotional significance. The police continue to urge anyone with information to come forward, hoping to reunite the urn with its rightful family.
