Thief opens nurse's car door as she's sat inside and snatches precious memorial bear for her mum...she had only died weeks before

A nurse says she's 'heartbroken' by the theft of a sentimental bear she carried around in memory of her mum.

Suze Pearson has had the knitted 'angel bear' with her day and night since losing her mum, Christine Sumner, at the end of October.

It was given to her by the hospice that cared for the 74-year-old cancer sufferer before she passed away.

But it was cruelly taken from Suze by a thief who snatched her bag on Christmas Eve shortly after she'd finished her shift at Salford Royal Hospital.

Suze Pearson has had this knitted 'angel bear' with her day and night since losing her mum Christine Sumner at the end of October. It was stolen when her bag was snatched in Park Road, near Salford Royal Hospital, on Christmas Eve (Manchester Evening News)

After stopping off at a shop in Eccles Old Road, she walked and got into her car on nearby Park Road at around 4.15pm.

But as she sat in the driver's seat, the thief opened the passenger door before she had the chance to activate the central locking and ran off with her bag.

As well as containing a large sum of money she had in her purse to give to her teenage son for Christmas, it contained the precious 'hug bear' - and it's that which she is hoping to find.

Mum-of-one Suze, 54, who lives in Stockport, said: "I was just putting my rucksack on to the passenger seat and closing the driver side door to then lock the doors, when suddenly the passenger door was opened by a hooded male who reached and grabbed my rucksack out of my hand.

Suze's angel bear was similar to this but with a maroon body (Manchester Evening News)

"I was so shocked and he ran off. In my bag was my purse with a large sum of money for my son for Christmas, and my bank cards etc, but my treasured item was my angel bear.

"The bear was from the hospice, as they give one to patients and one to family members who want one. They're hug bears for adults and children who might need a hug.

"He’s been with me every day and night since my mum died of cancer in Dove House Hospice in Yorkshire on October 24.

"I’m heartbroken."

Suze, a patient pathway manager at Salford Royal, who supports complex patient discharges and people on end of life pathways, reported the theft to police but has little hope of catching the culprit.

The angel bear was given to Suze at the hospice where her mum Christine sadly died in October (Manchester Evening News)

"I’ve reported it but it’s a closed case as there's no CCTV and no witnesses," she said.

"I’m just hoping the bear's been dumped and someone spots him. I’m praying for a Christmas miracle."

Suze's canvas backpack is grey with white polka dots and a cat's face on it. The bear has a beige face and maroon jumper-design body with a pink pattern.

Anyone with information can email emma.gill@trinitymirror.com or call police on 101.