Thieves take dead man's items

Keep your home safe from burglars these holidays. TWH 16Dec11 - htw131211sp07 HOME SWEET HOME: Keep your home safe from burglars these holidays. OAT 01Oct12 - WTA 01Oct12 - BOP 03Oct12 - CHR

Before Barry Lynch's family had time to bury him, someone had broken into his South Wairarapa home and stolen his television set.

Thieves returned in the following days and helped themselves to more items inside the Featherston grandfather's rented Brandon St home.

Mr Lynch died in hospital on December 13 after a battle with cancer and his family can't believe the audacity of those who have taken advantage while they are still grieving.

Granddaughter Maroeska Clark said the 40-inch Panasonic flat-screen television was taken in the days following Mr Lynch's death.

"It's just rude ... We hadn't even had time to grieve. He hadn't even been cremated and people were helping themselves. He was a down-to-earth man, who kept to himself."

The family offered most of Mr Lynch's household furniture including a refrigerator, beds and appliances to people who needed them and were planning to go through the rest and retain keepsakes for the family.

The offer was made through the Wairarapa free, buy and swap Facebook page.

However, between last Friday and Sunday, someone had broken in, stealing the microwave oven, tools and other items the family wanted to keep, leaving them gutted at the thieves' actions.

The thieves left behind a box of empty beer bottles outside and a couple of empty bottles inside the house.

"Dad went down on Sunday to sort out some of the things and decide what we were going to keep and someone had already taken most of it."

They have notified police but don't hold out much hope.

"We don't even know everything that has gone and our [grandfather] isn't here to tell us what is missing.

"We know the microwave and a whole bunch of tools are gone.

"Police can't do much really. People could have waited though or just asked us if they needed something, not gone ahead and helped themselves."

If you know anything about the burglary please contact Featherston Police (06) 308 9044.