Heartless thief steals laptop containing priceless photos during the funeral of 6-year-old boy.

A thief stole a laptop during the funeral service of six-year-old TJ Martin at Pentecostal City Church in Kesal Green on November 2. The laptop contains precious photos of the young boy who died tragically and has caused huge upset for the entire family. 

The computer was left unattended as guests and family members traveled to Kensal Rise for the burial. When they got back they found the laptop had been stolen. According to the police, CCTV footage from the church shows a man taking the computer from its case after spending about 15 minutes in the church...

Detective Ben Kirkham from Hammersmith and Fulham CID said:

     "The church hall was left open after the congregation left for the burial. We have CCTV that shows a man walk into the building. After spending about 15 minutes inside. He is then seen removing the laptop from the case and putting it into a carrier bag before leaving."

The grieving parents Norris Martin and his wife, Pat have issued an emotional appeal for the return of the laptop.

     "It's as important as life itself that we get the laptop back." Pat Marin said.

"Unfortunately, TJ's life is no longer, he's been taken from us, and that laptop has all of our memories of him, short of what we hold in our hearts. It doesn't mean anything to the person that's got the laptop back. We just want the memories - please. If you don't want to be ID'd, just give it to someone to hand in."

Her son had been born with Candle syndrome, a rare disorder characterised by inflammation and fever, and had spent much of his life in hospital before losing his fight with illness.

Mrs Martin added: "TJ was a very special boy, he was our only son, and everyone that knew him, as soon as you said his name, their face would light up. He brought comfort and reassurance to everyone and that is literally all we have to hold on to. 

"We're trying to deal with the loss of TJ and him being taken from us, but the memories... I can't even find words to explain how important it is for us to get it back."

Norris Martin, the boy's father, said:

"The photos on the laptop are six years of family photos, even from (TJ's) birth. All the memories that we have of him are on that laptop. We have a few on my phone, but that's only the last year-and-a-half. If you've bought an HP laptop since last Monday (November 2), and you think it might have been stolen, you should probably get in touch with Hammersmith police"

Continuing Mr. Martin said:

     "For the person who stole that laptop - they have nothing about them. How can you go to a church and steal a laptop?" 

Mrs Martin added: "To the person who's taken the laptop - I don't hate you, I don't see the point in hating you, you did what you did for a reason, but let's just please have the memories back."

Meanwhile, the Police would like to speak to a man described as black and about 40 pictured going into the church before the theft of the HP laptop. He was said to be wearing a black hooded jacket, a white hooted top with writing on the front and blue jeans.

Source: Evening Standard