A wedding ring and military medals are among the precious items stolen from an east Auckland house during a brazen daylight burglary.
Police are investigating the theft at the home of Tim and Charmaine Bubb in Mirrabooka Avenue, Botany Downs, sometime before midday on June 28.
It’s one of at least seven burglaries in Botany Downs reported to police in the past two months.
The Bubbs, who are from South Africa, were at work at the time.
They were alerted to the break-in by a neighbour, who saw a person wearing a hooded top walk out the property’s front door and get into a vehicle parked a short distance away.
“They realised something was wrong,” Tim says.
“They came in and looked around and our house had been looted.
“It’s a mess. They pinched my family’s medals going back to the Boer War.
“They took my medals, my grandfather’s medals and my great-grandfather’s medals.”
The security stays on several windows had been broken, which may indicate how the thief entered the property.
They went through jewellery boxes in a bedroom and left anything they didn’t want to steal lying on a bed.
“He took my wife’s jewellery and went through our drawers systematically,” Tim says.
“He picked out my wife’s best jewellery and took that.
“Her bracelets, her bangles, her wedding ring, which has got a nice diamond on it.
“My spare wallet, which was a gift from my mother, was lying in the drawer.
“He opened that up and had a good look in it. He knew what he was looking for.
“He went through everything. Spread it all out and picked the jewellery up. We feel violated.”
Among the most precious items stolen are military medals earned by Tim and his relatives on both sides of the family.
They include his grandfather’s medals for service in Italy during World War II and Queen’s South Africa Medals awarded to his great-grandfathers.
“You can see he’s gone through everything,” Tim says of the thief.
“He’s gone through all my mementoes. These things are priceless to me.
“What he’s taken, no money can buy. To me it’s devastating.”
Tim says he’s alerted medal dealers about the theft.
His family moved from South Africa to New Zealand in search of a better life, he says.
“We never had the stuff stolen there that we’ve had stolen here.”
Counties Manukau East Police area prevention manager, Inspector Rakana Cook, says neighbours reported suspicious activity at the address “with an unfamiliar man standing near the open front door”.
“This man then ran towards a white vehicle and drove away.
“It has since been reported to police that jewellery has been taken from the property.
“Police have visited the property and conducted a forensic examination.
“Enquires remain ongoing into the burglary.”
Cook says police acknowledge how invasive residential burglaries are on their victims.
He assures residents police are working hard to prevent such crimes and other instances of harm in the area.
People with information on the burglary of a house in Mirrabooka Avenue, Botany Downs, on June 28 can phone police on 105.
Alternatively, phone the free and anonymous Crimestoppers tip-off line on 0800 555 111.
