West Auckland couple 'overwhelmed' by support after baby gear stolen

Gareth and Belcy Hayter say they now have no clothes or supplies for their baby, which could come at any time.

The West Auckland couple who had sentimental baby gear stolen out of their car on the North Shore earlier this week are "truly overwhelmed" by the offers of support that have flooded in.

Gareth and Belcy Hayter, who are expecting their first child any day now, spoke in the Herald this morning of how "distraught" they were at losing two bags containing specially made baby gifts from family members overseas.

Mr Hayter, a software developer, was parked across from his work in the lower AUT University parking lot at the Esmonde Rd off ramp on Monday morning when he returned to find a back window smashed and the bags taken.

The bags - a blue Nike duffel bag and an Adidas black and orange bag of a similar style - were in the car ready to go to the hospital.

A half empty oil can in the back was also taken, but a camera, GPS device and a brand new baby capsule seat were left behind.

Mr Hayter said the couple were immediately contacted by friends this morning after their story appeared in the paper, "offering to help us with new-born clothes and other things, even offering to bring it over to us tonight".

He said old friends and acquaintances from years ago also reached out to them and once the article was shared on Facebook, even former classmates from overseas got in touch.

"We have been blessed by many very kind Kiwis," Mr Hayter said.

"NZ Herald readers have been incredible - there are so many kind and good people out there. We had offers from many readers, including Jenny Hodgson and Gaye Pratt, with offers of clothes and other items."

Ms Pratt, district chairwoman and council member at voluntary women's service organisation Inner Wheel, reached out to the Hayters this afternoon.

"Here are these poor souls that are all ready to go to the hospital because she's due and then suddenly there's nothing in the car," she said.

Ms Pratt is a member of the East Coast Albany Bays Inner Wheel club, which delivers baby bags for mothers who arrive at North Shore Hospital empty handed.

Partly funded by Rotary, the club's 22 members put together the bags - valued at about $70 to $80 each - and provide mothers with everything from nappies and soap to clothes, toys and teddy bears.

Upon reading the Hayters' story in today's Herald, Ms Pratt thought it would be a good opportunity to reach out and extend a helping hand.

"It was just the thought that these people are getting robbed of such personal things."

Despite telling their story in attempt to recover the special items, not to appeal to people's charity, Mr Hayter said the eagerness of people to help has blown him and his wife away.

"[It] is a testament to the good people all around us - helping each other."

Staff from AUT University spent 45 minutes helping Mr Hayter search the campus grounds yesterday to look for any discarded items, but had no luck.

"Even though they had been packing up to go home when I approached them to ask whether they'd noticed anything on Monday, once they heard what had happened they locked up their vehicle and began searching with me. So happy and keen to help - amazing."

Mr Hayter said he had also received ongoing help from police and his insurance provider over the past two days, and wished to thank them.Even though no items have been returned to the couple yet, they remain positive.

"We're not giving up just yet - we're still hoping that they are quietly handed in at AUT, NZ Herald or a police station.

"Buoyed with a sense of the good people around us, we know our little one will love being the first member of our family to be born in New Zealand."