A family who moved from Colombia to New Zealand in search of a safer future say they have been left devastated after becoming victims of two separate crimes within three days.
According to a report by NewstalkZB, Gabriel Rodriguez said the incidents have cost the family thousands of dollars and placed their financial security under immense strain.
“Crime is quite literally knocking on our doors, and hard-working families are paying the price,” she said, as quoted by NewstalkZB.
Rodriguez and her family immigrated to New Zealand nine years ago, believing they had found a safe place to raise their family. However, she said a recent series of crimes has changed that perception.
According to NewstalkZB, the first incident occurred on Sunday, June 28, when an online banking scam withdrew $600 from her account, despite her debit card remaining in her possession.
Just three days later, during the early hours of Wednesday, July 1, thieves broke into the family's vehicles outside their Ellerslie home.
Among the stolen items were her husband's plastering tools, equipment essential for his work, along with his wallet, NewstalkZB has reported.
Security camera footage captured the offender making repeated trips between the vehicles and an unseen location, carrying away bags and tools.
According to NewstalkZB, Rodriguez recently returned to work after taking a year of maternity leave to care for the couple's first child, who recently celebrated his first birthday. She said much of the family's savings had already been used during that period.
With little money left, the family now faces the challenge of replacing around $5,000 worth of stolen tools while continuing to cover everyday expenses.
“We are feeling devastated at the moment, as quoted by NewstalkZB.
“We are struggling to pay our rent and I just used a lot of our savings during my maternity leave.
“We do not have any family here; we do not have any help,” NewstalkZB has quoted.
After the wallet was stolen, fraudulent transactions were quickly made for groceries, fuel, electronics, an Uber ride and online shopping before the bank froze the card.
Police confirmed the vehicle burglary had been reported and said investigations remain ongoing.
“Inquiries remain ongoing, which will include receiving CCTV footage at locations where the stolen cards were used,” as quoted by NewstalkZB.
Rodriguez said her family had worked hard and sacrificed to build a future in New Zealand, but the back-to-back crimes had left them questioning whether the country still offered the sense of safety they had once believed it did, as reported by NewstalkZB.