B.C. woman pleads for return of her stolen cameras holding wedding images

A B.C. woman is hoping for the return of her stolen cameras that contain the images of her niece’s wedding in Cuba.

Tanya Munro returned from her niece Brooklyn Gervais’ destination wedding in Cuba on Friday night, with plans to stay in Calgary overnight before driving home to B.C.

Before heading home Saturday, she went to a McDonald’s along 17th Avenue S.E. to meet with a friend, and had everything from Cuba in her car.

“My car, it died while I was at the airport and so my battery wasn’t charged,” said Munro. “I turned to lock my car with my set of keys but I guess because my battery is dead, it wouldn’t lock my vehicle, which I didn’t know. So I walked away thinking my vehicle is locked.”

When she returned, her belongings were gone. Fortunately, Munro said there is surveillance footage from outside of the McDonald’s that showed the theft taking place.

“The guy walked by my car, looked in my car, backtracked, put gloves on and cleaned my car out,” said Munro.

Her laptop, a friend’s iPad, a Nikon D5000 camera body and a Nikon D7000 camera body, five camera lenses, three handbags, and their passports and birth certificates were all taken.

The camera equipment alone, Munro said, is worth more than $5,000.

“My niece’s wedding photos are on there, all our excursions are on my laptop,” Munro said.

“I’m just thankful I removed all my personal photos from my laptop before we left.”

Gervais, who lives in Edmonton, said she is “absolutely devastated.” She and her husband hired a photographer in Cuba to take photos of their wedding, but Gervais said they didn’t do a good job.

In the end, the couple had only her aunt’s photos to document their special day.

“My heart’s definitely feeling heavy, but more of my sorrow comes from the fact that there is nothing I can do for my aunt right now. Her whole trip with her daughter. Gone. Her professional equipment. Gone,” Gervais said via Facebook Messenger.

“I will say I am more devastated for her than for myself or anyone else. I have the memories in my heart, but I wish my husband and myself could have had the photos from the day our forever started.”

Munro said they have filed a police report but so far haven’t heard any updates on the stolen items.

“Even if I don’t get the cameras back, just (return) the pictures, just (return) the chip.

“My daughter was swimming with dolphins, and Brooklyn’s wedding photos, it’s just the memories,” Munro said.

“I can go through my insurance and get a new camera, I just can’t get those pictures back.”