By David Allison From Sunderland Echo

A student’s dream holiday with her boyfriend had a nightmare ending after she returned to England only to have her suitcase with £2,000-worth of items inside swiped.

Beth Lowe had been working two jobs this year to get in enough cash to enjoy the fortnight break to the Dominican Republic with boyfriend Scott Hunter.

The pair set off on June 15 for the Caribbean destination on the £2,400 Thomson holiday, leaving from Manchester Airport.

After getting back on the morning of June 30, the pair had booked seats on a National Express coach to get them back to Wearside.

But after putting their luggage on the coach and making only a few stops, Beth was horrified to find out on arrival at Park Lane Interchange back in her home city that her case was nowhere to be seen.

National Express say they are trying to help with finding the case, including liaising with police and checking CCTV footage.

I had a fortune’s worth of stuff in that case. I’ve added it all up and it’s more than £2,000, and now I’ve got no clothes, make-up or straighteners to my name
Beth Lowe

“We’d booked the coach a week before we went on the holiday,” explained Beth, 19, of Roker.

“I thought it was a bit weird that when we went to get on the coach, the driver didn’t even ask to check tickets, which they’ve always done in the past when I’ve used National Express.”

A short time into the journey, the coach stopped at Manchester Coach Station so that the drivers could change.

“The coach was absolutely dead and so was the station, but we were told to get off,” added Beth, who works at the New Derby pub in Roker and had until recently held another position as a shop assistant as a way of saving up for the holiday.

“Then we noticed that the driver had left the bus door open and the under part of the bus open too so we decided to stay and watch the cases. It was 25 minutes before the other driver came.”

Before leaving the service station, a female passenger and two children boarded the bus, before getting off at a stop in Middlesbrough.

Beth and Scott, a 25-year-old postman for Royal Mail, were both looking forward to getting back home but as they got off the coach at Park Lane, only Scott’s suitcase was on board, with no sign of Beth’s.

“We didn’t notice anything wrong at that point so I just couldn’t believe it,” said Beth, a dancer who is set to begin a degree at Newcastle College in September.”

Beth said the driver told her the suitcase must have been taken at one of the stops. “I didn’t know what to say apart from that it should not have been allowed to happen. The driver then told me he would report what had happened but when I rang up National Express the day after they said nothing had been reported.

“I had a fortune’s worth of stuff in that case.

“I’ve added it all up and it’s more than £2,000 and now I’ve got no clothes, make-up or straighteners to my name.

“I’m devastated and nobody is helping. They don’t seem to care about what happened and I’m totally shocked by it.”

A spokeswoman for National Express said: “We were sorry to hear Beth’s holiday ended with a missing suitcase and understand how frustrating this must be. Our customer service team is making every effort to support the relocation of the case, including liaising with the police and reviewing CCTV.

“We will continue to liaise directly with the customer and will provide any supporting documents needed to assist her with any insurance claim which may be necessary.”
IMAGES
Beth Lowe who’s suitcase was stolen whilst travelling on a National Express Coach from Manchester to Sunderland
Beth Lowe and boyfriend Scott Hunter on holiday in the Dominican Republic
Beth Lowe who’s suitcase was stolen whilst travelling on a National Express Coach from Manchester to Sunderland

For more on this story go to: http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/crime/sunderland-couple-s-dream-caribbean-holiday-ruined-by-2-000-suitcase-theft-1-7358518