A Lowell couple was supposed to be celebrating the happiest day of their lives when disaster struck: Their rings and marriage license were stolen on Sunday, just hours before their wedding ceremony, police said.
Around 9 a.m., Iara Lima, 22, and Michael Gustafson, 24, went to a Central Street salon where Lima was getting her hair done, Lowell Police Captain Kevin Staveley said.
The couple said they left their locked car outside the salon and found the items missing around 10 a.m. The car had no signs of forced entry, Staveley said.
Their wedding bands, which together cost more than $1,000, a bracelet, earrings, and the marriage license were all missing from a bag in the back seat.
The couple did not report the incident until 6:45 p.m., when they flagged down a police car.
Lowell police had responded to another theft from a car just down the street from the salon at 9:32 that morning, Staveley said.
“These are more or less crimes of opportunity,” Staveley said.
The police did not find evidence from surveillance cameras but are checking local pawn shops for the stolen items, Staveley said.
Anyone with information about the crime is urged to call 978-459-TIPS.
Melissa Hanson can be reached at melissa.hanson@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @Melissa__Hanson.