The owners of a Paekakariki property were overseas when burglars broke into their newly renovated home and torched it.
Nigel Welch said his brother, Rodney Welch, and his sister-in-law, Camilla, were in Fiji when burglars allegedly broke into their home near Pauatahanui, removed items and set the house on fire early yesterday.
Mr Welch sent them photos of the charred remains of their 570sq m home on Paekakariki Hill Rd. The family had just completed a year-long renovation that included recladding the house and putting in double-glazed windows.
“Camilla was having breakfast [when I rang] and asked if she had any clothes to come back to. I said: `You better go shopping’.”
Mr Welch said nothing was retrievable from the house. “Burglary is one thing, but to burn down a house is another. No-one was hurt, but it was pathetic, stupid and totally unnecessary.”
The property had a rateable value of about $1 million.
Passing motorists alerted the fire service about 3am.
Neighbouring rural property owners were unaware of the fire until about 4am.
One said she heard dogs barking about 1.30am, but nothing else raised suspicions of a fire.
Firefighters dampened down hot spots in the home and the scene was later examined by fire investigators.
Detective Sergeant Steve Dunn said the fire was being treated as suspicious. “It appears property had been taken from inside.”
Porirua police wanted to hear from anyone in the area who had experienced people cold calling – knocking on their doors and asking questions – over the past few weeks.
Mrs Welch was named Her Wellington’s businesswoman of the year for 2010.
She is the co-owner and general manager of Label and Litho, a printing business with 41 staff which makes self-adhesive labels and was also a finalist in this year’s Green Gold Awards for sustainable businesses.
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