Garry Power and Kate Aynsley returned to their Balmacewen Rd home on Monday night after spending Labour Weekend in Greymouth, to find a window smashed, the front door to their house unlocked and one of their vehicles missing.
The couple had a shipping container filled with possessions on their property and the burglars had rummaged through that and taken many items.
It appeared the burglars had then loaded up Ms Aynsley's blue 2006 Ford BF Falcon XR6 ute and driven away.
Most devastating was the loss of a ring belonging to Mr Power's mother, Carol, given to Ms Aynsley before she died in July.
''That's the only thing she gave me,'' Ms Aynsley said, tearfully.
''You just can't replace that.''
Also stolen were hard-drives, which contained 10 years of photos, including those of their two daughters.
The burglars had taken five televisions, tools from Mr Power's work ute, appliances, power cords and even a deep-frier filled with oil, which was spilled throughout the house.
''They have been through all the washing - just tipped it out,'' Mr Power said.
''They have been through every cupboard in the house. They have been through [my work ute] and then locked it again and taken the keys with them.
''They have pulled everything out and dumped everything on the floor and looked through everything.
''They have been here for a while.''
The couple were renovating the property, but the raid had taken its emotional toll.
''Emotionally, I don't know how to find the will to get back on renovating this place that's been so tarnished,'' Ms Aynsley said.
''It would have been better if they put a match to it, to be honest.''
A family friend told the pair the Ford Falcon ute was in the drive at 7pm on Sunday, so they believed the burglary had happened after that time.
Police had been to the house and looked for fingerprints but it appeared the offenders knew what they were doing, Mr Power said.
The burglars had jemmied the window open with a screwdriver, causing the outer pane of the double-glazed window to smash.
A similar burglary also occurred nearby in Lynn St during the weekend.
Senior Sergeant Liz Waru said the offenders had jemmied the windows open in both burglaries.
Three televisions, a laptop, a tablet, a watch and keys for a vehicle were stolen from the Lynn St house, she said.
The modus operandi, proximity and timeframe of the burglaries suggested they could be linked, she said.
Anyone who saw anything suspicious in Wakari during Labour Weekend, or with information that can help, was asked to contact Dunedin police on 471-4800.
Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555-111.
If Ms Aynsley's distinctive Ford Falcon ute - registration plate DPM283 - is seen, people should contact 111 immediately.
