There have been at least three cases of looting in the wake of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit New Zealand last night, including from the family of a disabled girl.
The NZ Herald reports that the Mill family fled their New Brighton home with their two daughters, the youngest of whom has muscular dystrophy, shortly after the earthquake hit at 2am. When they returned home five hours later, they found the property had been looted.
Melissa Mill said they fled because of her 12-year-old daughter’s disability.
“We left, because we thought it was safer for if anything happened, like if there was a tsunami,” she said.
Among other items, thieves stole her daughter’s $4,700 (NZ $5,000) wireless microphone system, which she requires for a hearing impairment and is set up specifically for her, meaning it would be useless to anyone else. People = fucked.
“I feel sick, I feel absolutely devastated,” Mrs Mill said. “They have been through everything. It’s really horrid. We took our family away to be safe and came back to all of this… it’s just devastating.”
Thieves also stole, among other things, the family’s TV and X-box.
NZ Police have confirmed two other lootings that occurred during the earthquake. Despite this, the Canterbury District Commander’s Superintendent John Price said it was important that people put their own safety over looking after their property.
“It is extremely disappointing that in a time when people are facing a traumatic event, others decide to take advantage like this,” he said.
“We understand people may have concerns about the security of their homes following evacuations, but it is important people do not return until it is made clear by the appropriate authorities it is safe to do so.”
While the tsunami warning has been lifted, residents are warned to stay away from coastlines as a precautionary measure.
Source: NZ Herald.
Photo: Twitter / Luke Mathews.
