A HEARTBROKEN father was devastated to discover thieves had stolen an iPod belonging to his late daughter.

The crooks broke into Iain Donald’s red Mercedes, which was parked outside his house in Seafield Road, Dovercourt, and stole two iPods.

Mr Donald, said the car was broken in to sometime between 11pm on Sunday, July 16, and 7am on Monday, July 17.

One of the iPods belonged to his daughter Chiara, who took her own life five years ago when she was 20 years old.

He said the iPod shuffle had great sentimental value to him and he listens to Chiara’s music playlist while he drives as a way of keeping her close.

Mr Donald said: “I felt devastated when I realised the iPod had been stolen.

“No parent ever expects to lose a child and the fact we can no longer create new memories with her makes any memories we have even more precious.”

Mr Donald has three other daughters, Isabella, 15; Freya, 11; and Sianna, six, who also use Chiara’s iPod. He said: “The family often listened to her iPod as it is a connection with her, and my other daughters definitely prefer Chiara’s taste in music to mine.

“Whilst listening to it brings in a full range of emotions from happiness to sadness, it makes me feel close to her and I can’t express how much I would like it back.

“You never know when memories will be all you have and Chiara and I used to dance around the kitchen on Friday nights singing loudly and badly to songs from both iPods, so I would be delighted to get them back.”

Mr Donald has lived in Dovercourt for three years and said his car has not been broken into before.

He said: “They can’t be worth much money, so I hope someone can return them back to me.”

Mr Donald offering a reward for the return of the iPod and the conviction of the thief.

Contact Mr Donald on 07885 979087.