Theft a cruel blow to family

‘‘I got up this morning and the ute was gone.’’ Still in possession of both sets of keys and with no glass on the ground, Doug believes the thieves must have slipped a wire through the window and rolled it down the hill. ‘‘If they’d started it outside my

Thursday was four-year-old Joseph Alsop’s first night home with his family.

After a life changing seven weeks in which the Tokoroa pre-schooler was diagnosed with leukaemia and underwent chemotherapy at Starship Hospital, it was meant to be a happy homecoming.

Instead, the family has been left reeling after thieves stole Doug and Chrystal Alsop’s ute and its precious cargo.

Gone are Joseph’s blood forms, medication and appointment information that was all ready for a trip to Waikato Hospital yesterday where he would undergo more chemotherapy.

Furthermore, both his parents’ wallets and a new car seat for six-year-old daughter Emily-Rose are now gone.

‘‘We’re really heartbroken, and pissed off this has happened when my boy’s sick,’’ Doug said yesterday morning.

‘‘It’s been stressful being away from home – this is the first time we’re together and this happens.’’

Doug had parked his 2001 model Toyota Hilux outside his mother-in-law’s home on Fergusson St for the night.

The couple had moved in with Chrystal’s mother after discovering their previous home was not suitable for Joseph’s recovery due to mould issues.

While staying in Auckland, the family arranged to pack up the house and move the furniture.

‘‘For the last seven weeks we’ve been living at Ronald McDonald House and [Thursday] was the first time he got to come home in seven weeks.

Chrystal and Doug Alsop had both their children Emily-Rose and Joseph home in Tokoroa when thieves stole their ute.

Joseph Alsop, 4, had spent seven weeks in Starship Hospital undergoing treatment.