House burgled in Melbourne while family stranded in India

Ani is one of the thousands of Aussie-Indians who had travelled to India to meet their families before the borders were closed due to the coronavirus lockdown. Though many have returned, as Ani waits to return to Australia, she received the news that her house in Dandenong was allegedly burgled last week.

House broken in to Dandenong

Source: Supplied

Highlights:

  • Ani is stuck in India due to COVID-19 lockdown.
  • She says her house in Dandenong, Victoria was burgled last week.
  • Thousands of Australian Indians are stuck in India due to the border closure.
Ani’s house in Dandenong, Melbourne, was being looked after by her friends while she is stuck in India due to the coronavirus lockdown.
House broken in to Dandenong
Source: Supplied
The friends, who live in Truganina, go to Ani’s house once in a while to take a look around.

Last week Ani needed a document from her home so she requested her friends to go and pick it up. However, she says she received the ‘shock of her life’ when the friends reached the house.
“They went there and they were online with me showing me around the house. When he approached the main door, it was open. The bottom part was completely broken and everything was ripped off inside. Clothes were on the floor. Sofas were ripped off. The fridge was moved away from the kitchen. Documents were torn apart,” Ani told SBS Hindi on the phone.
House broken in to Dandenong
Source: Supplied
Ani is at her mother’s place near Hyderabad in India. She is waiting for international flights to restart.

“Airlines are charging unaffordable money for repatriation flights. $2300 for a ticket would mean almost $7,000 dollars for my money. And then a paid quarantine in Australia for 14 days. I think it is unaffordable. So, I have no option but to wait for the normal flights to restart,” says Ani.
House broken in to Dandenong
Source: Supplied
Meanwhile, her house has been locked and police are investigating the matter.

Apparently the thief spent a long time at the house according to Ani.

“He ate in my kitchen. He used the toilet. He left a cigarette butt in the bathroom. He smashed the glass of our temple and the idols were crashed. I am so shocked,” says Ani.
House broken in to Dandenong
Source: Supplied
She feels like her whole life has been ripped apart.

“Like my house has been scattered, my mind is scattered. My life starts at my house and that has been invaded. If I want to return straight away, I can’t. And due to coronavirus, we are locked inside our home here in India. It feels like everything is falling apart.”

 

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.

Testing for coronavirus is now widely available across Australia. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.

The federal government's coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone's app store.

SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at 

Tune into  at 5 pm every day and follow us on  and 


Share
3 min read

Published

By Vivek Kumar

Share this with family and friends