Sebastopol cancer patient's house burgled while he slept a metre from theft

The 68-year-old Sebastopol resident has done more battling in a week than most people have across their entire lives, yet he endeavours to remain positive.

"There's not much use doing anything else but be positive, no one likes a negative person," Mr Wasley said.

However, after waking up to find his home had been burgled and car stolen, nobody could blame him for being a little rattled.

Mr Wasley's Sebastopol home was broken into on Saturday night while he slept.

The intruder or intruders entered the home through a window near his bathroom, seemingly only big enough to fit a child. They entered his home where they proceeded to steal a number of items such as wallets, car keys and perhaps most worryingly, three coin jars that sat less than a metre from where Mr Wasley was sleeping.

"The feeling someone is that close to you and didn't know is very unsettling."

Mr Wasley didn't wake as they searched his home, partly because of medication he had taken to assist his cancer.

He only discovered the full extent of the damage when he got up to feed his cat the following morning.

"I did everything as usual and I just noticed out of the corner of my eye the front door was open.

"When I went over to close it I peered out the window and that's when I saw the car was gone. It gives you that empty feeling."

The loss of Mr Wasley's 2012 Nissan X-Trail is not only physically devastating, but also emotionally.

"Before Sally (Mr Wasley's wife) passed, she put a 5 CD-changer in that car and I haven't touched it since she's been gone," he said through tears.

Now after changing all the locks in his home, Mr Wasley can no longer relax.

"There's a lot of noises that come from this house and I just can't ignore them. I'll get up out of bed, turn all the lights on and check the whole house some nights."

The loss of his car also means the loss of independence, as he will have to rely on his daughter to take him to his treatment.