Family in fear

By Jade Lawton
A PAKENHAM family is living in fear after their home was burgled in May.
Tabitha Tabone said the break-in had devastated her children – particularly her seven-year-old son, whose room was worst hit.
“I was out with mum that day. I picked my son up from school and came home and I didn’t know at first, because the TV was still there, but then I saw the wardrobe open and the kids stuff everywhere,” she said.
Jewellery, a camera, DS and even her daughter’s handmade piggy-banks were stolen.
None of the items were insured.
“Police recovered the piggy banks and the camera, which had all the photos wiped off,” she said.
“It took me eight years to get that stuff and it was gone in one day.”
Ms Tabone said her young family was ‘very shaken up’ after the burglary, and she had investigated finding counselling for her son.
She wants the thief to know that his actions have had a long-lasting effect.
“A few days after the burglary it was my son’s birthday and the poor kid just got a few things that he had lost,” she said.
“It has traumatized my son completely. I know he (the burglar) has got a problem, but I would like him to go to jail. I would be happy if he was locked up.
“If they’ve got a drug problem, there is a way to get off drugs and live a good life. I’ve hard a hard life myself. They need help.”
Ms Tabone said she had rung up Victims of Crime and tried a local community centre in an effort to find help for her son, to no avail.
“I have this beautiful little boy and he doesn’t feel safe,” she said.
“I just want this guy to know what he’s done.”