Burglary adds insult to break-up
Family break-ups are harrowing, particularly for children.
Raven Maaka and her husband, Ihaka Gibb, who are in the midst of separating, knew this when they planned a weekend away with daughter Arya, 6, hoping a change of scenery and the time together would help the family move forward.
But the getaway to New Plymouth was cruelly cut short when they found out their home in Manawatu¯ had been ransacked by thieves.
They stole the obvious – a Subaru Legacy, a quad-bike, a big-screen TV – and the intimate: personal heirlooms, including every photo the family had of Arya since she was born.
Maaka said the burglary, which occurred on June 13, was the last thing they needed during an already difficult time.
Arya was taking it the hardest. She now insists on making sure every door in their Rongotea home is locked.
‘‘She’s a very sensitive kid, her world has already flipped upside down. To see her home literally flipped upside down, it’s a lot to deal with.’’
Arya’s parents are struggling, too.
‘‘There’s a feeling of ickiness,’’ said Maaka.
‘‘That they touched all our stuff, they looked at all our photos, they could’ve hurt our dogs and there was nobody there to help.’’
She has posted on Facebook asking people to look out for the stolen items. The post has had over 900 shares.
‘‘They took things we worked hard for. But worse, they took things thatmean a lot to us, that wouldn’t mean anything to anyone else... you can’t just go out and buy another one of [these].’’
The couple hoped finding the larger items taken could lead to the recovery of the irreplaceable belongings.
These included Gibb’s hunting knives, which were passed down to him from his grandfather, and Maaka’s jewellery.
An Acer laptop stored all the family photos that featured Arya.
Maaka backed the photos up at least once a year to USB sticks, but the burglars took those, too.
The storage devices were practically worthless to anyone else, she said, but the moments captured and recorded were priceless for the family.
If anyone has any information that can assist police, call 105. Information can also be passed on anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.