Irreplaceable family photographs stolen in Shaftesbury break-in

TREASURED family photographs were stolen during a break-in at a home in Shaftesbury last week.

Thieves took cameras, hard drives and jewellery when they ransacked the home of photographer Bella West, who lives in the Bimport area of the town, last week.

The burglars also got away with a laptop computer, which was a joint Christmas and birthday present to one of Ms West's daughters, after breaking in sometime between 7pm and midnight on Thursday 10th January.

Ms West said although the thieves got away with possessions worth around £1,000, it is the photographs stored on the hard drives that she is most desperate to be ruined with as they contain hundreds of photographs of daughters Lauren, 14, and Evie, 12.

"Of all my possessions, the photographs that were on those drives are the second most precious possessions that I own after my children. They are the past ten years of my children's lives in pictures," she said.

"I hope whoever took them will have some kind of heart and give the pictures back. I don't care about anything else."

Ms West explained that she initially thought somebody had left a window open when she walked into her freezing cold home last Thursday night. But she quickly realised there had been a break-in when she found the back door wide open and th contents turned out from numerous drawers and cupboards.

Ms West said none of her commissioned photographs were stolen as her office is situated away from her home.

"The whole thing has left me feeling very angry but all I want back are the family photographs - they are irreplaceable," she added.

Dorset Police is investing the break-in and theft. Anyone with information should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. Quote crime reference number 11:05.