By Paul Dunlop
A FAMILY whose home was ransacked by thieves last week says it can no longer live there.
Deanne Adshead and her three children were so distraught by the invasion of their Cora Lynn home they have fasttracked plans to move.
Thieves broke into the house last week rifling through cupboards and damaging property before escaping with hundreds of dollars worth of garden and recreation equipment.
A chainsaw and lawn mower and an exercise bike were among the items stolen.
A single mum, Ms Adshead said she and her children, aged seven, nine and 14, were still coming to terms with the incident.
She said it had been a traumatic experience.
“We were preparing to move and after this it’s going to happen a lot quicker,” Ms Adshead said.
“The kids are quite frightened. They don’t want to stay here any more.”
Ms Adshead said the family was moving to Walhalla.
The thieves broke into their house, in Nine Mile Road, while they were away.
The thieves gained entry to the house through a window. It is believed the breakin occurred on Thursday or Friday.
The breakin was discovered by Ms Adshead when she returned home on Saturday morning.
“It is horrible to think people have been in your house while you are not there. It is very disconcerting,” Ms Adshead said.
Police from Pakenham CIU are investigating the breakin.
Ms Adshead said that as a single mother on a pension she could not afford to replace the items that were stolen.
But her main concern was the impact of the breakin on her children.
“I can’t believe something like this could happen,” she said.
“We’ve been here four years and nothing had ever happened. Everybody knows each other around here. I just can’t believe it.”
Anybody with any information is urged to contact police on 5941 1033.