Thief steals ‘priceless’ photos of Bridgnorth couple's big day
A newly wedded couple today spoke of their devastation after the camera equipment that captured their wedding photographs was stolen.
The equipment worth more than £8,000, was stolen from Shropshire photographer Shaun Culliss at Pendrell Hall in Codsall Wood, South Staffordshire.
Bride and groom Anna-Maria and Richard Jones, who live in Bridgnorth, were dining at the party on April 10 when the thief struck.
Among the items stolen from Mr Culliss, from Church Stretton, included his lenses, cameras, SD memory cards inside the cameras, a flashgun, adaptor, microphone, batteries and various camera accessories.
It happened around 4.30pm when a man entered the venue and looked around before stealing three bags/cases from a room on the ground floor.
Money inside one of the bags was also stolen.
The couple, Richard Jones, aged 40, who works as a civil servant, and Anna-Maria, 34, have been together for three years.
Mr Jones said: "We were made aware that the equipment had been taken during the reception. There were photographs on the camera where at times only Shaun was present with me and my wife.
"There were photos that no-one else go so there's some very special moments that we've lost. I didn't take it too well on the day but we still got married and had a good day.
"Just a black cloud that hung over the day because of the events.
"I know some of what happened but not all of it. Shaun is the victim but we've been caught up with it all because its our photographs."
The thief has been described by Staffordshire Police as white, 5ft 7in tall and aged in his mid-20s.
He was wearing tight blue jeans, a green, long-sleeved sweater, a blue baseball cap worn backwards and white trainers. He was also wearing glasses.
He arrived and left in a silver Renault Megane, possibly with another person.
Mr Jones urged whoever stole the equipment to return it. He said: "The polite message would be to just please return the equipment. I appreciate Shaun has lost a lot but these photos are priceless to us. I urge whoever stole them to return it. Even if the SD card is anonymously left somewhere."
An investigation into the theft is now underway and police are appealing for information.
Shaun Culliss shared each of the items stolen on his Facebook page and said that he was 'gutted'.
The photographer said: "It had taken me nearly six years to build up all the gear through slowly saving up to invest in quality cameras and lenses. I lost it all in two minutes.
"All the wedding pictures I had taken that day were on Sandisk 32GB extreme PRO SD cards inside the cameras.
"I just want the gear back, especially the memory cards with the wedding photos on."
For a full list of items search Shaun Culliss Photography on Facebook.
Anyone who is offered high-spec photography equipment at a knock-down price, or come across discarded equipment/memory cards, should contact Staffordshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 600 of April 10, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
