Royal Mail has launched a full investigation after a bride-to-be claimed her engagement ring, with deep sentimental value, was stolen during delivery to a Birmingham workshop. Nadya Giffen, 46, who is due to marry in October, says the ring belonged to her late mother and is irreplaceable.
Ring's journey and alleged theft
Nadya's jeweller, based in Harpenden, sent the ring via Royal Mail Special Delivery on July 2 to a Birmingham workshop for a new stone to be fitted. The package was received at the Hemel sorting office for onward transit but never arrived at its destination. Nadya's jeweller alerted Royal Mail, which began an investigation.
Nadya said: "I'm devastated that my ring has been stolen." She believes the theft occurred during transit, despite tracking and security measures. "They have a record of every person on shift, every person that handles special deliveries, right down to timings," she added.
Sentimental significance
The ring originally belonged to Nadya's mother, who died suddenly when Nadya was 14. Her father later passed away "of a broken heart." Nadya kept the ring safe for decades, waiting to meet the right person. She met her fiancé, Richard, and said she is "desperate to get it back."
"Her engagement ring was symbolic of true love," Nadya said. "My dad died of a broken heart - he simply couldn't live without her." The anniversary of her mother's death on July 11 intensified the pain of the loss.
Royal Mail response
A Royal Mail spokesperson said: "We understand the deep sentimental importance of this ring and how distressing its disappearance is for Nadya. We're treating this matter extremely seriously and our security team is carrying out a full investigation. We remain in direct contact with the customer and will continue to update them as our enquiries progress."
Appeal for return
Nadya described the ring as distinctive, especially with a missing diamond, making it hard to sell. She pleaded: "If anyone knows anything about its whereabouts, I would plead with them to come forward or please just return it." Royal Mail continues to investigate, with CCTV and staff records under review.
