A WOMAN was burgled while visiting a hospice to say a final goodbye to her 15-year-old daughter who died of cancer.

Heartbroken mother Natalie Elbrow, from Bournemouth, said one of the items stolen in the raid on her Leybourne Avenue home was a laptop treasured by her daughter, Daisy.

The Apple MacBook Air contained precious photos and was a “portal to the outside world” for the teenager, who died five days after her 15th birthday.

Detectives are investigating the burglary, which happened sometime between 10.45am and 1pm on Thursday.

Daisy, who was a pupil at Bourne Academy, had tragically died four days earlier, and Natalie, 47, discovered her home had been burgled after returning from Julia’s House in Poole, where she had been saying goodbye to Daisy.

Along with the laptop, thieves stole a white Xbox One, daisy-shaped Pandora earrings, and cash.

The MacBook and Pandora earrings belonged to Daisy. Funds for the laptop were raised through a raffle organised by the stroke unit at Poole Hospital. A crowdfunding page was also set up for Daisy.

The teenager, who bravely fought a seven-month battle with a rare cancer known as renal cell carcinoma, died at Poole Hospital on Sunday, November 19.

Doctors discovered the main tumour was in her kidney, but it had also affected her spine and lungs and spread to her liver and lymph nodes.

She underwent specialist chemotherapy and spent most of the time following her diagnosis in hospital.

Natalie said: "Daisy was a real fighter. She fought that cancer to the very end and was so brave.

"She spent more time in hospital than out, and that laptop meant everything to her. She was so weak that she was forced to spend most days in bed and it gave her a portal to the outside world. It had all her things on it and all her photos. It meant so much to Daisy and I desperately want it back."

Detective Sergeant Adam Woolman, of Dorset Police, said: “This burglary was committed while Natalie was saying goodbye to her late daughter.

"I am sure everyone will be incensed by this crime, and I urge anyone who knows who was responsible for this offence, or knows where Daisy’s laptop is, to please do the right thing and either come forward or hand it into a police station."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting occurrence number 55170182638. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.