Family burgled five times
Student starts appeal to bring some Christmas cheer to classmate’s unlucky household
ANapier woman has set about bringing Christmas cheer to a family who have been burgled five times in as many months.
Eastern Institute of Technology student Meg Blakely, 22, has started a Givealittle page for classmate Sarah Chilton’s family to show her gratitude for the positivity they brought others, and to help make their Christmas a little easier.
“Her personality is so bright, she makes everyone smile,” Ms Blakely said.
“You wouldn’t even know they’d been robbed, she’s such a happy person.”
The Chiltons had their Frimley Ave home burgled four times during July and August and again last month.
Ms Chilton said around $5000 worth of items had been taken, including iPads, iPods, phones, and a camera.
Most items had been taken from their back porch, but this area was part of the house, down a long driveway, and where the family spent most of their time.
The mother of two said she tried to stay positive in spite of the burglaries, and to concentrate on others as “everyone’s going through hard times”.
After the fifth robbery she wrote a Facebook status to the robbers, posting: “I imagine we will be hosting your presence again in the near future, might I suggest waiting until after Christmas for the ‘mega haul’ of goodies that you seem to think we can afford to purchase time and time again.”
The worst thing had been the theft of one of her son’s scooters, Ms Chilton said.
His birthday was on Christmas Day, but to spread the financial burden he received the scooter at his “halfbirthday” in June.
“Now it’s his real birthday and his main present has been taken just before Christmas.”
Ms Chilton said she had been stunned and delighted with Ms Blakely’s kindness, but also a little embarrassed.
“We don’t need [the money] like other people need it; it’s hard to accept kindness sometimes.”
Ms Blakely said she didn’t feel the mother, wife, and hardworking student had deserved what had happened to her family, but did deserve a good Christmas.
“I made it an open donation so people could just give $2 here or there, I thought that would be enough for a full Christmas banquet.”