Thieves return to plunder home

FUMING: Dave Ryan and his family have had property stolen two weekends in a row. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

A Masterton man is irate that thieves have had the gall to rob him and his family twice in just one week.

Dave Ryan, who lives in the Upper Plain area, had two chainsaws stolen the weekend before last and last weekend the thieves returned and stole two dirt bikes. Although the property has a total value of around $20,000, Mr Ryan said he was more concerned about the effect of the burglary on his family, with his 13-year-old daughter struggling to sleep at night.

The incident follows a similar theft last month, when three dirt bikes were stolen from a farm in Alfredton.

"I'm fuming that people came on to my property with my family while they were asleep. It was all done in the dark at night and we didn't hear a thing."

Since the theft his daughter would often get up in the night to check the doors were locked, and he now worried about her going outside to get firewood at night, Mr Ryan said.

"Stuff is just stuff, but making my wife and my daughter feel uncomfortable in their own home ... home is where people go to feel safe. That's what's buggered me at the moment.

"Things can be replaced but you are messing with my family by coming on to the property. If we do find them, they are going to have a big problem."

Mr Ryan believed the thieves had seen the dirt bikes when the chainsaws were stolen but had been unable to take them as they were too well secured.

When the thieves returned the following weekend they targeted the bikes, breaking the lock to the workshop and then to the bikes, which were deadbolted to the ground.

His son's yellow Suzuki RM 125 competition bike and a blue and white Yamaha WR 250 bike were taken from the workshop. Nothing else was stolen.

The thefts come after a tough few years for the family, who struggled financially after Mr Ryan, who runs his own business, took time off work for major surgery during the recession.

The family then suffered further blows when they lost their 16-year-old son, Sam, in tragic circumstances and Mr Ryan had a heart attack.

Before the theft things were "just coming right" for the family, Mr Ryan said.

"Things haven't really gone our way."

Mr Ryan was unsure if insurance would cover the full cost of replacing the chainsaws and bikes as some items were not specified on the policy.

He would be installing security cameras and taking steps to beef up security on the property, he said.

"These people think that the worst thing that can happen to them is the police catching them, but the reality is that that is not the worst thing that can happen. They may one day target the wrong person."

Anyone with information can contact Masterton police on 06 3700378 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.