$13,000 'dream' ring theft

A heartbroken Dunedin student has issued a plea to whoever took her dream engagement ring: please return it.

University of Otago law and communications student Emma Kyle (23) was working at Velvet Burger on Saturday night when someone stole $3000 from the restaurant's office, as well as Miss Kyle's laptop, iPod and wallet.

Inside the wallet was her engagement ring.

"I thought [the ring] would be safe. I didn't want it to fall in the deep fryer."

Ms Kyle became engaged to her nurse fiance, JM Corella, in the United States last October.

During a year spent together in Phoenix, Mr Corella, who will return from Phoenix next month, proposed to Miss Kyle, presenting her with the $NZ13,000 Scott Kay-designed diamond and platinum ring.

"It was my dream ring. It was really beautiful."

When she realised someone had burgled her workplace office, her heart sank.

"I knew straight away if he'd taken my laptop, he'd taken everything and the ring was gone."

The ring was insured on Mr Corella's United States policy, but it was not clear yet if they could claim the loss in New Zealand.

The ring was very personal to them and they would far rather have it back.

Miss Kyle's biggest concern was that the thief might have taken the money out of the wallet and thrown the wallet away, with the ring still in it.

"We can't do anything about it right now, except to try and catch him. I just want him to bring my stuff back."

Constable Karl O'Dowda, of the Dunedin CIB, said anyone who recognised the man from the security camera footage image should contact Dunedin police.