While Chloe Orman was giving birth to baby daughter Hailee in the early hours of last Wednesday morning, thieves were helping themselves to the contents of the family car in the Narrabri Hospital car park.
In the rush at 9.45pm on Tuesday night to get inside the hospital for delivery, Chloe’s husband Josh didn’t lock the car.
“We parked the car and jumped out, and as we were in a rush I didn’t even think about locking it, we just took off into the hospital,” Josh said.
“I went back out around 4.30am and noticed the glove box and centre console open, with our baby bag gone.”
Inside the baby bag were items all required for their newborn’s impending arrival, including nappies, outfits, dummies and other accessories.
“I was pretty down about it, I couldn’t believe anyone would be low enough to do that,” Josh said.
Josh’s mother, Judy Orman, said the family didn’t want to pursue the matter because the car hadn’t been properly secured.
“At first we thought ‘what can we do?’ it’s our fault for leaving it unlocked, but then someone at the hospital got wind of it and decided to search the CCTV cameras,” Mrs Orman said, adding that they didn’t want to get police involved.
“They generally say you should have your car locked, which is quite right, but at times like this you don’t think about it, particularly when someone’s in agony.
“Chloe was in a lot of pain, Josh’s first thought was on her and getting her inside, you don’t think about those kind of things.”
Hospital staff told Josh that the CCTV showed a couple of people, who appeared to be “young kids” accessing the car.
Staff said they had jumpers with hoods, which disguised their face from the camera.
Josh said he didn’t hold the kids responsible.
“It’s not really the kids’ fault, where do these parents think their kids are at that time of the morning?” he said.
Family members went shopping soon after to purchase replacements for the stolen items, which came to $170.
“They’re both healthy so that’s the main thing anyway,” Josh said.
In a statement, Narrabri Hospital’s acting health service manager, Fiona Lysaught, said staff were saddened by the incident.
“We all felt so bad for the family, a terrible thing to happen during what should be such a happy occasion,” she said.
“At the same time, we’re very happy to welcome their little girl into the world, and extend them every congratulations.”