A newlywed couple is making a public plea to return some priceless items after a thief turned their wedding night into heartbreak.
Aaron and Erin McCarty's wedding in La Jolla was blissful.
"It went really fast, but the best day of my life," said Aaron, the groom.
"It was everything I imagined it to be," added Erin, the bride.
That dream day in mid-October eventually turned into heartache two weeks later. After the newlyweds returned from a trip to Northern California, their families gave them the bad news.
"It's a sense of violation," said Aaron.
"Definitely shed some tears over it," said Erin.
Those tears were shed over a van and what was packed inside -- pricey camera equipment, wedding decor, all the gifts, the main wedding video and a wine glass containing all the cards and nearly $3,000 that guests contributed to their European honeymoon fund.
That same night, a family member drove the van to a home in El Cajon, parked it and likely left it unlocked.
The next morning, it was all gone.
"I can't quite put my finger on all the feelings it brings," said Erin.
Erin said the lost honeymoon fund is tough, but it's the missing cards and the stolen video that hurt the most.
"We will never read those cards. Those moments that were captured, we can't get that back," said Erin.
"It's supposed to be a time of happy, families, and loving. Instead we have to deal with this," said Aaron.
The family filed a police report, and the couple is now making a plea to the thief to get their memories back.
"I would love to get those videos back. We're not going to get to show our kids one day. It's very upsetting," said Erin.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call El Cajon police.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the McCartys.
