Man, 24, charged with Christchurch burglary during November 14 tsunami evacuation

Photo / File

A 24-year-old man has been charged with the burglary of a Christchurch home during the tsunami evacuation early on November 14.

The theft made headlines after it emerged an expensive hearing aid was among the items stolen from the Mill family.

The aid - actually a wireless microphone system - was used by the family's youngest daughter, who has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair.

The system is worth about $5000 and was set up specifically for her.

A Givealittle appeal for the family, who also lost other electrical items and a ute, raised almost $48,000.

Melissa Mill and her family fled their home in the immediate aftermath of the Kaikoura quake.

They left at 2am and returned five hours later to find it ransacked.

"We came up the driveway and saw the work truck was gone," she said.

"Then we saw the front door was open, the side door, the garage door and the sleepout."
Mill was disgusted by the incident.

In a city ravaged by earthquakes and disaster she thought her home would have been safe and the community would have pulled together.

"I feel sick," she said.

"I feel absolutely devastated."

The accused will appear in the Christchurch District Court tomorrow.