PETALING JAYA (The Star/Asia News Network) - Looters are reported to have descended on the Ukrainian field where Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight MH17 crashed last Thursday and ransacked victims' possessions.

According to witnesses, many pieces of luggage that were pulled from the charred crime scene had already been opened and rifled through, USA Today reported.

Among the items left behind were a Minnie Mouse lunchbox, a Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal, family photographs and passports that were still intact.

The daily also reported that the lack of security in the area likely encouraged the "heartless" ransacking.

It said that the scene has not been cordoned off and unidentified men were allowed to walk into the area.

MH17 was en route to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport when it crashed in Ukraine near the Russian border on Thursday.

It was reported to have been shot down by pro-Russian separatists.

All 298 people onboard, including 15 crew members, are believed to have been killed.