Aid grows for raided Masterton family

Bruce and Rebecca Robertson lost computers, a television, cameras, their passports and family heirlooms in the daylight burglary and their dogs Pepper and Penny were bashed.

A Masterton family cleaned out by burglars who attacked their pet dogs in the process has been inundated with help and support.

Bruce and Rebecca Robertson lost computers, a television, cameras, their passports and family heirlooms in the daylight burglary and their dogs Pepper and Penny were bashed.

Yesterday Mr Robertson said that after the Friday burglary he wondered "what sort of society we have out there" but subsequently people's kindness has been overwhelming.

"We have had loads of people coming up to us offering support, people I hadn't even met before.

"On Friday night we had a hot lamb and chicken roast dinner brought to us, there has been bottles of wine and offers of help cleaning up in the aftermath of the burglary."

Mr Robertson said Victim Support had been in touch and the police had been keeping in close contact.

"It has made us realise there are some really neat people out there," he said.

The two dogs - a sheepdog and an old labrador - were recovering and all that was left was their injuries were "a few bumps".

The lost items included family holiday photos and Mr Robertson grandfather's satchel with a collection of old photographs inside which he said were a really loss to the family, and irreplaceable.