Women's clothing was taken from a Lower Hutt house before it was completely destroyed in a suspected arson, police say.
Detective Constable Kirsten France said the house on High Street in the suburb of Taita was destroyed by a fire at about 11:45pm last Friday.
She said an investigation was launched after a scene examination revealed women's clothing and other belongings had been taken before the blaze.
"We now believe the house had been burgled prior to the house being set alight."
The house had been occupied by a mother and her two children.
