Laptop containing photos of terminally ill boy stolen

Officers investigating a burglary in Middleton are appealing for the public's help to trace a stolen laptop that has pictures of a terminally ill boy on it.

Between 12.30am and 7.30am on Tuesday 13 September 2011, a house on Penrose Walk, Middleton, was broken into.

The conservatory doors were forced open and a laptop was taken from the sofa.

The laptop contained pictures of a terminally ill boy, who has cancer.

The pictures are not backed-up and are the family's only copies of images that are precious to them.

Police Constable Cameron Slater, based at Middleton Police Station, said: "This laptop will be of little financial value to the thief who has taken it so we would ask them to think of just how much the pictures on that computer mean to the family it belongs to: do the right thing and hand the laptop and yourself in.

"We would also urge anyone who has been offered a laptop today or knows anything else about this crime to contact us."

Anyone with information is asked to call officers in Middleton on 0161 872 5050 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.