MONTREAL—Thieves knew exactly whose belongings they were stealing when they ransacked the car belonging to Pat Burns’ widow within hours of the popular coach’s funeral, police said Tuesday.

About 30 autographed hockey sweaters from Burns’ personal collection and numerous family valuables were taken in the robbery, which was discovered by Burns’ wife Line on Tuesday morning.

“They went through his stuff,” said Const. Anie Lemieux of the Montreal police, noting Burns’ wallet was in the car.

“The person who left with the shirts and everything knows that this is Pat Burns’ stuff.”

Burns’ cousin Robin, who delivered a eulogy at Monday’s funeral, called the crime “deplorable.”

Burns, an award-winning coach of the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and New Jersey Devils, died after a lengthy battle with cancer.

At his funeral, people remembered the gruff ex-cop as a tough but fair man who cared about his players and knew how to motivate them.

Police say they will launch a public appeal to the thieves, asking them to leave the stolen items in an agreed-upon spot where they could be recovered.

The crime was committed between midnight and 9 a.m. Tuesday. The Burns clan and numerous family friends had attended a wake in a downtown bar Monday night, after the funeral.

The stolen items include:

•Thirty jerseys signed by star players from each NHL team.

•Two suitcases containing Burns’ clothes, and those of his wife.

•A Movado men’s watch.

•Many family photos.

•Bedsheets from the palliative-care unit.

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•An iPad.

•Women’s jewellery.