Generosity keeps wedding on track

The burglary was a shock for (from left) Mohammed naim Mohammed, his mother Miriam, and his partner, Tiana Kausari, carrying their son Eshan. Picture / Greg Bowker

A bride who lost her wedding dress and rings two weeks before the big day might still be able to go ahead with the ceremony - thanks to the generosity of strangers.

Offers have been flooding in from Herald readers to replace items stolen from the home of Glen Innes couple Tiana Kausari and her fiance, Mohammed naim Mohammed. The house was burgled on Sunday while they were out looking at possible wedding venues.

Ms Kausari said they had planned a traditional Afghan ceremony on May 26.

But when they got home on Sunday, they found thieves had smashed the back door of their Taniwha St home and taken most of their possessions, including Ms Kausari's wedding dress - a gift from her mother that had a necklace and earrings attached - and their wedding bands.

All their food and furniture, including their 22-month-old son's bed, were also taken.

The Herald was inundated with offers of assistance donations of food, furniture and money, free wedding photography and several wedding dresses.

"It's quite a surprise, we weren't expecting this," Ms Kausari said.

"That's awesome. It's nice that someone cares. We're still upset."

Several recent brides offered their dresses, sympathising with Ms Kausari.

"I wore my dress in January of last year, it's a Grecian style wedding dress, and in very good condition. I was hoping to sell it on Trade Me, but I would probably only get a fraction of what I bought it for, so I'd rather it goes to someone deserving of it," one reader said.

"I have a 1-year-old and it is sad to see them without food or the little one's bed. I would like to offer them some ... money for food or groceries," another said.

Ms Kausari said if she was able to arrange a new dress and rings the wedding could still go ahead.

"I'd like to, if we can afford it."

Yesterday she said she was angry at having to wait for police to come to the house after the crime was reported.

But police attended within their prescribed 24-hour burglary response time and were disappointed with the way their response was portrayed.

A spokeswoman reiterated that details of the burglary were passed on to the nearest crime scene attendant.

"The CSA in the eastern area had finished his nine-hour shift for the day. He had dealt with 23 burglaries in the area over the two days. The complainant was assured she would be contacted by police early the following morning," she said.

"An appointment was made for between midday and 1pm yesterday and the CSA duly attended."

The investigation was continuing.