Burglars end kids' Christmas cheer

Denise Kean's Christmas ended up far from merry. Picture / Hawke's Bay Today

If coming home to find the house stripped by burglars is bad news, try telling the kids their favourite Christmas presents have gone.

That was the plight of Hastings mum Denise Kean yesterday as she waited to tell her two children of a raid in which thieves ransacked her home on New Year's Eve or early on Sunday.

Son Benjamin, 11, lost a bike, a PlayStation console, and a radio an aunt gave him for Christmas.

They were just a few of the many items taken in the burglary at the Wall St property.

The family had been burgled before, in mid-2003. Daughter Emma, now 9, was particularly traumatised by the fear of a repeat raid after that burglary, which, like the latest, happened while the family were away for a night.

Ms Kean was worried about an even greater impact on Benjamin.

"He's going to have to come back and look through his room to see what else has been taken," she said.

"And it will be knowing that someone has been through everything.

"The effect will be different - they poked through everything."

Police earned high praise from the victim for arriving to investigate within half an hour of her call.

A VCR and CDs were among other items taken.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY