A family’s long journey from the Netherlands to celebrate their daughter’s university graduation ended in heartbreak after thieves stole their van containing their belongings, money and life-saving medication.
Femi and Hannah Ajose had driven hundreds of miles to the UK to attend the graduation of their daughter, Elizabeth Ajose, from the University of Wolverhampton. But on Sunday night, their white Ford Transit was stolen from Bewdley Drive in Wolverhampton, leaving them stranded in a foreign country with little more than the clothes they were wearing.
CCTV footage captured three hooded suspects approaching the van before reversing it into a parked car and driving away. Inside the vehicle were the couple’s luggage, clothing, credit cards, cash, pet food and vital medication for ongoing health conditions.
Despite the devastating loss, the family attended Elizabeth’s graduation ceremony. What should have been one of the happiest days of their lives was instead overshadowed by anxiety and grief.
“My mum was crying, saying, ‘Our stuff isn’t in there,'” Elizabeth recalled. “Even our pet food was still in there… everything was in the van.”
Her mother, Hannah, said she struggled to enjoy the milestone.
“I cried all through because I wasn’t happy. I was supposed to be happy that day, but I was sad all through, crying,” she said.
The family’s passports were spared because they had been left in a separate bag, but the loss of their medication has become the most pressing concern.
“As I’m talking to you, anything can happen,” Femi Ajose said. “Since Sunday, I’ve never taken my medication. Likewise my wife also, and it’s dangerous to our health.”
West Midlands Police said they understood the family’s distress and frustration following the theft and are appealing for information that could help trace the stolen white Ford Transit.
For the Ajose family, a journey made in celebration has become a desperate search for hope. Instead of creating lasting memories of a proud graduation, they are now focused on recovering the essentials they need to return home safely.
Anyone with information is urged to contact West Midlands Police.
-BBC news.
