Tina Grey and her daughter Autumn - their Rotorua home was burgled yesterday. Photo / Supplied
A Rotorua mother and her young daughter with cancer returned from hospital to find they had been burgled, with thieves taking laptops, phones, gaming equipment and medicine.
Tina Maria Grey said she and her 12-year-old daughter Autumn Tangohau - who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2022 - had been in Auckland’s Starship hospital for Autumn’s cancer treatment since Sunday.
When they returned to Rotorua about 4pm on Tuesday, Grey noticed their Glenholme home was a “mess” and Autumn’s medicine cupboard “emptied”.
“They went through every room,” Grey told the Rotorua Daily Post.
Grey said she wanted “to actually feel safe in our own home again”.
“It’s just a challenge ... [it’s] enough to try and keep my daughter healthy and alive, really, and that’s a stress in itself and just coming home to your house being vandalised and just personal space being tampered with and just being robbed.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get over this ... we’re already vulnerable.”
Grey had reported the incident to police.
A spokesman said police were making inquiries into the burglary and forensics had been taken at the scene.
Police are appealing for any information that could assist with inquiries. Please contact the police by calling 105 or visiting the 105 police website, and referencing file number 240430/1469.