A Rotorua mother and her young daughter with cancer returned from hospital to find they had been burgled, with thieves taking laptops, phones, gaming equipment and medicine.

Tina Maria Grey says she and her 12-year-old daughter Autumn Tangohau - who was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2022 - have been in Auckland’s Starship hospital for Autumn’s cancer treatment since Sunday.

When they returned to Rotorua about 4pm on Tuesday, Tina noticed their Glenholme home was a “mess” and Autumn’s medicine cupboard “emptied”.

“They went through every room,” Tina tells the Rotorua Daily Post.

She says she wants “to actually feel safe in our own home again”.

“My main thing is I just want my daughter’s stuff back.”

Bathroom window forced open

Tina says the first thing she noticed was her clothesline chair had been moved.

“When I opened the door, the house was just a mess.

“All the drawers were open ... her [Autumn’s] medical cupboard was emptied.

“I went into my daughter’s room and noticed that they threw everything around the room to try and find everything for her Nintendo Switch.”

She says Autumn’s school and personal laptops, gaming headset and Nintendo Switch were taken.

Tina’s laptop, two spare mobile phones, and her security cameras were also taken.

She says it appears the bathroom window had been forced open.

Family looking to move ‘somewhere safe’

Tin says she and Autumn had lived in their home for more than a year and have never had any issues.

However, after the burglary, she says Autumn doens't feel safe at home.

“She couldn’t sleep til about 3am [yesterday] morning. Every little move [or] sound outside, she’ll flinch.

“We’re looking at relocating somewhere safe because no one wants to come home to that ... no one should have done that.”

Tin says she's not coping well.

“It’s just a challenge ... [it’s] enough to try and keep my daughter healthy and alive, really, and that’s a stress in itself and just coming home to your house being vandalised and just personal space being tampered with and just being robbed.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get over this ... we’re already vulnerable.”

Tina has reported the incident to police.

A spokesman says police are making inquiries into the burglary and forensics has been taken at the scene.

Police are appealing for any information that could assist with inquiries. Please contact the police by calling 105 or visiting the 105 police website, and referencing file number 240430/1469.

The family has set up a Givealittle page.

-Rotorua Daily Post.