Haeata Charitable Trust founder and friend Teisha Reihana is supporting the Filo family, who had all their Christmas presents stolen.
A Tauranga family of 10 lost all their Christmas presents when a burglar ransacked their home, leaving the parents in tears and the children heartbroken.
A Givealittle page has been set up for the Gate Pa family, who lost items including laptop computers and Playstations.
Family friend and Haeata CharitableTrust founder Teisha Reihana said the Filo family, which includes eight children aged six to 18 years old, had been left badly shaken. The burglary of their Cook St home was believed to have happened on Saturday while most of the family were in Auckland visiting relatives.
Ms Reihana said Mr Filo was a tractor driver working in the kiwifruit industry, and he and his wife had saved up all year to buy presents for the children.
"Mum and dad have been crying, and so has their 12-year-old son Jacob, who keeps saying Christmas has been ruined for him. The two older children don't want to live in the house any more," she said.
The burglary was discovered by one of the older daughters when she arrived home from work and found a ranch slider at the side of the house smashed.
"When she walked in the front door she immediately noticed all the presents under the Christmas tree were gone, and the entire house was an absolute mess," Ms Reihana said.
The burglars took all the electronic devices in the house apart from a large and heavy TV, she said. These included two laptop computers, a Playstation 3 and a Playstation 4.
Ms Reihana said the offenders also stole some cash, which was one of children's savings.
The items might have been removed from the house through a window, which was found open with a curtain half-torn from its railings.
Ms Reihana said police had taken fingerprints and were still investigating the break-in, and although they recovered a Playstation 3, it did not belong to the Filo family.
Given there had been two further burglaries in the same street during which Playstations were stolen the Filos believed the thieves may live in the neighbourhood, she said.
Haeata Charitable Trust founder and family friend Teisha Reihana has rallied around the Filo family who had all their Xmas presents and other items stolen. Photo/ John Borren.
Ms Reihana said the parents bought the Playstation 3 for Jacob a few months ago to encourage him to excel at school.
The Filo family were not insured, and a Givealittle page was set to up to help replace the stolen items and share some Christmas cheer, she said.
"The Filo family had been big part of our outreach programme from day one, and the older children have been volunteering with our community meals.
"We're trying to do as much as we can to help them and we would love to get some funds together to help relieve the stress and heartache this hardworking lovely family is feeling."
Tauranga police confirmed the burglary was reported and asked anyone with information to call 577 4300. Alternatively, the Crimestoppers line could be called anonymously on 0800 555 111.
To donate funds to the Filo family Christmas fund
Go to https//givealittle.co.nz/cause/christmasforfilofamily
