A DEVASTED family has spoken of how thieves stole their daughter's only way of communicating.It was on Sunday night that thieves broke into the Naylor family's home in Avondale Road, in Ipswich.

A DEVASTED family has spoken of how thieves stole their daughter's only way of communicating.

It was on Sunday night that thieves broke into the Naylor family's home in Avondale Road, in Ipswich.

They entered the house by forcing a window open and then stole handbags, mobile phones, jewellery and the Dynamite speech translation machine used by 19-year-old Faye Naylor who was born with a gene deficiency and has never been able to speak.

Trevor Naylor, Faye's dad, said: “It is a pointless crime. There cannot be a market out there for the machine and so is useless to anyone else.

“I guess the thieves thought it was a lap-top computer as it looks similar in its case.

“But it was much more important and is her only means of communication with the outside world. She will be devastated when we tell her it has gone.

“The machine was given to us by Suffolk County Council when Faye was 12-years-old and cost £6,000.

“Because it was so expensive it is unlikely we will get another one. We just beg those who took it to hand it into a police station.”

Miss Naylor, who has learning disabilities, would have used the machine on Wednesday when she starts a new course at Suffolk College.

Instead she will now have to struggle with new classmates as she will not be able to talk via her machine.

Mr Naylor added: “Her new course will teach her vital skills for the outside world. But without the machine it will make things a lot harder for her.”

The machine is believed to have been stolen from the property between the hours of 1-7.30am.

Anyone who saw anything unusual in the area during these times is asked to contact Detective Constable Geoff Lucas at Ipswich police station on 01473 613500.

Anyone who has found the machine can hand it into The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4 1AN.

Opinion - page 6.