A New Mexico family, now living in North Carolina, sought refuge in their home state from Tropical Depression Florence. Hours after making it back to Albuquerque, thieves struck.

“We were going to stay but the little one was starting to panic and I didn’t want to frustrate him or traumatize him,” says Althea Joe.

Millions living on the east coast, including the Joe family living in Sneads Ferry, were forced to make a decision in the face of Florence.

“We said that Monday we would go ahead and go,” says Joe.

The Joes have been living there for a few years now because Harold Joe is stationed in the Camp Lejune area with the marines. His wife, Althea, and the kids arrived in Albuquerque on Wednesday night.

They stopped at the Golden Corral on San Mateo and Osuna for dinner and immediately, Albuquerque’s worst took action.

“We saw that they punctured the keyhole and the driver side door was open,” says Joe.

Althea’s purse and briefcase containing the Joe family’s most important documents were all gone.

“It’s not knowing what’s going to happen. How am I going to protect my children? How do I protect their identity?” she says.

The manager of the Golden Corral called police. Althea says another cart at the restaurant was also broken into at the same time as her truck.

Meanwhile, back in North Carolina, the Joe family’s neighborhood became flooded after Florence moved through.

Even though the family escaped the storm’s wrath, they can’t help but feel some regret for seeking shelter in New Mexico.

“It was more like, we should’ve just stayed over there. I think we had a better chance of being safe there versus here,” says Althea.

Althea doesn’t care to get her purse back, but says her family needs those documents.

“You hold our lives in your hands. If there’s anyway, or if I can come up with any money that you need to give it back to us, I mean, I would appreciate that,” she says.

Althea says her husband, who stayed in North Carolina, is safe. She says she has no idea when the family here will begin their journey back to the east coast.

KRQE News 13 asked police for an update on the case, but have not heard back.

The family posted to Facebook, hoping someone may come across the briefcase or the family’s documents. If you find them, the family asks you to call 505-504-3937 or 505-450-2476.