Thieves strike during labour
As if giving birth wasn’t stressful enough, thieves stole an expectant mother’s car from outside the maternity ward while she was in labour.
Alex Barnett of Greytown went into premature contractions on Monday and was taken to hospital in Masterton.
Her partner Corey Olson stayed overnight on the ward with her and when he emerged in the morning to get some supplies, the couple’s Mazda Bounty ute was gone. ‘‘It’s gutting, it really is. We’re relying on other people at the moment and it’s not a good situation to be in,’’ he said.
By yesterday afternoon Barnett was still waiting for her baby boy to emerge.
‘‘I hope he’s not too far away. I can’t wait to meet the little guy,’’ she said.
The couple planned to call him Axel Jesse Olson.
Their vehicle, which they had owned for only a week, was loaded with baby gear and personal belongings.
Alex’s older sister Te Aroha Haami set up a Givealittle page for the couple to relieve some of the financial woes created by the theft. ‘‘Having a premature baby is worrying enough but to have to deal with a stolen car and contents at the same time is just adding stress to the situation,’’ Haami said.
Olson said he hadn’t organised insurance for the vehicle when it was stolen and they still had $6000 owing, which was going to put an extra strain on their finances.
He worked as a digger driver in Wellington and the loss of their main vehicle would have a big impact. In the short term, friends, family and co-workers had offered the loan of cars while the couple were at the hospital.
Police are seeking sightings of the silver 2001 Mazda Bounty double cab ute. It has custom 17’’ black wheels and a black stone guard on the bonnet.