‘It may be worthless to you, but it’s priceless to us’
A family from Bradford, whose young daughter sadly passed away from a genetic condition, have made an emotional appeal for the return of her ‘priceless’ passport following a home robbery.
On Thursday 22nd January, the family home on Killinghall Drive, Undercliffe, was targeted when thieves broke in and stole a number of items after forcing their way into locked bedrooms.
Amongst the items taken was 12-year-old Aisha Hanif’s only ever passport.
Aisha passed away two weeks before her 13th birthday from Sanfillipo Syndrome and had only been out of the country once with her family to visit grandparents in Pakistan.
Her mother, Shamshed Hanif, a local driving instructor, had been working at the time of the raid last month.
Upon returning home, she noticed the documents had been taken and was shocked to see Aisha’s passport had gone.
Mrs Hanif said: “If I could speak to the people who broke into my home I would tell them they can keep all the other passports and all the items they took.
“The only thing I ask is for the return of my daughter’s passport. Nobody can gain anything from it, it was out-of-date, and will be worthless to anyone else. To us it is priceless.
“That was the only time Aisha ever went abroad when we went to Pakistan to see our family. It is the only time we were all together so it holds a lot of sentimental value for us.”
Describing Aisha as a fun, loving child who was always full of life, Mrs Hanif added: “She was a very special child and had the ability to make you smile by just looking at her.
“You may have been having a bad day but she was the one who could always put a smile on your face.”
Detective Constable Dean Patterson, of Bradford District CID, says an investigation is still ongoing into the matter, and urged anyone with information to get in touch.
DC Patterson said: “We would like to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the Killinghall Drive area of Undercliffe between 9.05am and 10.30am on Thursday 22nd January.
“Our inquiries lead us to believe that a man on a silver bike was seen near the property at about 9am that day, and we would like to speak to anyone who might have seen this man, who might have headed towards Swires Road or Pollard Lane.
“A number of passports and other travel documentation were stolen in this burglary, so I would urge anyone who is offered such documentation to contact Bradford District CID on 101, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”
