We immigrated from South Africa about six years ago. Back in South Africa, among so many scary things, criminals would break into your house while you were there. They not only stole from you, but could hurt or even kill you and your family.

My family was held at gunpoint a few times while they were robbed. It's a miracle they were not killed.

Having a young child, my husband and I decided to leave the country. It just was not safe. We were sitting ducks.

Living in fear and worry about safety the whole time isn't a life either. So we decided to move to New Zealand.

It took me about a year to get used to the safer place here in New Zealand and the idea that we had a good chance of living a good and peaceful life.

Slowly that fear and paranoia left me as I accepted the fact that we were not in so much danger here than back in South Africa. That was up until a few months ago one night when we went to bed fairly late, about 1am. I had just fallen asleep when I heard a bang noise. We got up - we thought one of the kids had fallen out of bed, but no, they were fine.

We thought it must have been a toy, so we went back to bed. In the meantime we had a stranger in our house busy stealing our stuff.

Yes, they broke into our house while we were there. No, they didn't physically hurt us, but you can imagine the upset.

Something I tried to get away from happened right here in my new house, right here in New Zealand. It brought back all that fear, and I can't stress the disappointment.

I'd left my family, my friends and all my connections behind in the hope of having a safer life. I was probably mad to think that anywhere in the world was safe. I started to believe we would be OK, but now I'm not so sure.

The items that were stolen were replaceable, but we were invaded. My kids' rooms were right next-door to where this thug broke in. He got away too. The police couldn't find enough evidence to catch him.

I've worked hard to start a new life, I pay my taxes and I'm trying to be a good Kiwi.

What gives thieves the right to come into my house and take what is ours, not just electronics, but our peace of mind?

Will I go back to South Africa, no. New Zealand is still safer, but I guess not as 'heaven' anymore.