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A family were forced to cancel their holiday to Disneyland after their luggage was stolen an hour before they were due to depart.
Danielle Easton, her partner Jack Hall, and their daughters - aged two and four - were staying at the Spring River Hotel in Welton before catching the Eurostar from Ebbsfleet.
They brought their luggage down to their van and went back inside to have breakfast and check out, but when the family opened the boot it was empty apart from a buggy and a pair of wellies.
The theft happened at the Talbot Lane hotel at 7.30am last Wednesday.
Nurse assistant Miss Easton said: “I can’t believe one hour of breakfast cost us our holiday.
"We had been planning for months. It was supposed to be for my 30th birthday.
“We were absolutely devastated. We worked so hard saving, I had bought the girls Disney outfits and little dresses.
"I want to warn people who are staying in hotels in the area, to keep their luggage on them" - Danielle Easton
“They could see it was children’s luggage, why would you steal from a child?”
Even Miss Easton’s birthday cards from her daughters were taken from the bags which she planned to open while at the Paris theme park.
“I’ll never get those words back, I never even got to see them. The thieves even took our laundry bag,” she said.
They went straight back to the hotel to report the crime to the police and ask for CCTV.
Miss Easton said staff told them it had happened before and has questioned why they weren’t told to keep hold of their luggage inside the hotel.
Despite still having their passports, the family decided to stay at home.
Miss Easton said: “We just couldn’t go, I’m quite an anxious traveller anyway but we literally had nothing: no nappies, no toothbrushes.
"I started claiming for insurance, I didn’t think we had that much stuff, but each suitcase is easily £500.
“I know we aren’t going to get our stuff back, they swiped everything they could.
“But I want to warn people who are staying in hotels in the area, to keep their luggage on them.”
The couple spoke to Disneyland and Eurostar about rescheduling, but as they had their passports it was deemed not a suitable reason to not attend their holiday.
Police confirmed they are investigating two thefts after another van was broken into and tools were stolen from the hotel at about 8.30am.
Marstons, which runs the hotel, declined to comment while police investigate.
The company added it is working with police to offer assistance.
Witnesses are urged to call police on 01474 366149.
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