Nanaimo residents are rallying to help a family of six after squatters broke into their rented house while they were away, destroying and damaging their property.
Allison and Adam Greenway and their four young children returned Sunday from a family trip to the Yukon to find their Nicol Street home had been broken into. Allison posted on Facebook that the home was “ruined.”
One man has been arrested and charged with break and enter in connection with the case.
An online fundraising campaign set up to help the family says beds in the home were broken and stained, kids’ clothes and toys were strewn all over, and drug paraphernalia was everywhere, including in the children’s new back-to-school backpacks.
“Almost all of their things have been stained, broken, or stolen. Without renter’s insurance, they have to find a way to replace all of their possessions,” the page says.
Residents have been offering the family everything from home furnishings to home-repair assistance.
By midday Wednesday, close to $5,000 had been raised on the Go Fund Me page, organized by Jennifer Black-Moir.
The story took a bizarre turn on Monday, after Adam and some helpers went to the house to start cleaning and sanitizing.
When Adam returned that night to check on the house, he discovered that someone had boarded themselves inside, the fundraising page said.
“Thankfully, the RCMP responded quickly, though they had to break in the front door to arrest the man inside.”
Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien said the door was locked from the inside. “We had to break through the door and then deployed our police dog services and they were able to take the male into custody. He received some bite wounds.”
The man was taken to hospital for treatment and is in custody, O’Brien said.
Police were initially contacted by neighbours after the family had left town. The neighbours reported that it looked as though people might have been in or at the house, O’Brien said. Police checked the house but did not find anyone and the doors were secured.
In one visit, the basement entrance was open and a mattress and food were seen. Police closed up the house, he said.
Given the extent of damage discovered by the family, O’Brien said there may have been more than one person in the home while the family was away.
The family has been staying elsewhere during the cleanup process. A home security system is being installed.
The Go Fund Me page was started to replace broken and stained furniture, such as the kitchen table and chairs, plus household goods, such as towels, pots and pans. Also needed are back-to-school supplies and new clothes for the children.
Some electronics were broken and the family will be facing costs such as meals and a hotel until their home is habitable again.
“Anyone who knows Allie and Adam knows that they are incredibly kind and generous people, offering help wherever they can, and instilling those values in their beautiful children,” the fundraising page said.
“It has been heartbreaking to see them struggle with the emotional pain of having cherished keepsakes destroyed.”
Sean Damien Kulai is facing a charge of break and enter. He is scheduled to appear in Nanaimo provincial court on Sept. 15.