Hastings resident Graham Phillips has had his rental broken-into six times since February with the latest break-in on Sunday. The burglars took all his food while he was in hospital. Photo/ Warren Buckland
Hastings resident Graham Phillips has had his rental broken-into six times since February with the latest break-in on Sunday. The burglars took all his food while he was in hospital. Photo/ Warren Buckland
Hastings man Graham Phillips is 77, suffers from kidney failure and has trouble breathing, but heaven help the burglars who broke into his house and stole all his food while he was in hospital if they ever cross his path.
Sunday's break-in was the sixth on his property since February,and the most galling for him.
On previous break-ins the burglars stole his laptop, his electrical tools, his phone, and his tablet, which he can't afford to buy back.
This time they took all his food, including meals on wheels, frozen food, pantry food and toiletries.
"There is hardly anything left apart from some salad leaves," Phillips said.
"I feel outraged but there's nothing I can do to stop them from breaking-in when I am hospital.
"If I catch the b******s I will let them have it."
Graham Phillips examines the contents of his near-empty fridge. All his food was taken by burglars while he was hospitalised on Sunday. He's outraged. Photo/ Warren Buckland
Phillips said he'd done everything he could, including reporting the incidents to the police, and didn't understand why his rental was so frequently targetted.
Police had installed security lights, latches and helped change the locks on the property to no avail.
"Why they chose me, I don't know," he said.
"I am so annoyed by the way things are, but there's not much I can do about it. There's no way I can manage the security being in the hospital as often as I am.
"I don't know why they keep picking on me.
"To the people who keep breaking in, I just want to say if you get caught, you will get hurt."
Close friends of Phillips', who check up on him everyday, are as outraged as him about the break-ins and said they hope the burglars who took all his food "choke on it".
Vicki and Mana McGregor say Phillips is like family to them and they are livid that someone is continuously taking advantage of a sick man.
Graham Phillips was in hospital when burglars broke-into his rental in Mahora and took all his food. His friend Mana McGregor (pictured) examines the near-empty fridge. Photo/ Warren Buckland
"The stupid thing about it is that the neighbourhood knew he is unwell and someone waited for opportunity to steal what little he had."
