hard.
I mentioned a few months ago that Pleasantville really isn't so pleasant anymore. Now the bloom is definitely off the rose. The gilded lily is thoroughly tarnished. And I am just an idiot, and it cost my family dearly.
The pleasant façade of Pleasantville
Last night, the burglars came calling.
Yes, we live in a very crime-ridden city...but we have The Gate. *she said pleadingly and with a whimper* The Gate is supposed to keep the unwanted elements out of our little community. The Gate is supposed to make it safe for me to run at night and for my kids to ride their bikes in the street. The Gate is supposed to protect us from unsavories...like burglars.
This false sense of security has led me to do very naïve things... leave my house and car doors unlocked, for example. I've gone off to pick the kids up from school or go grocery shopping without closing the garage doors on more than one occasion. As with many homes, there is direct access to the house interior via the garage...and at our house, there's a ton of crap in the garage...
What it looks like from the street.
This 'path' is currently totally obstructed and has been for months.
Seriously, how could you find anything of value in this mess?
Last night I failed to lock my car doors. While the neighborhood was sleeping, someone went into my car and 'ransacked' it, found the parking change stash and the garage door opener. They opened the garage door and helped themselves to my photographer husband's equipment. He is devastated. And I feel like an idiot.
It could have been worse. They could have hurt us. Thankfully, all they took were replaceable items. But ...and if you have ever been broken into or robbed or the like, you know what I mean... we are left with a sense of having been violated...trespassed upon...and it feels awful.
You can bet I've learned my lesson insofar as locking doors. And on the off chance those wacko Kirby guys had anything to do with it, I'll be sending any and all solicitors packing from the compound with threats of calling the police.
I'm probably still going to run and bike at night though.
This SUCKS. I'm so sorry. Our house was robbed when I was a little girl and it felt like my world was over. I hate thieves. The worst.
ReplyDeleteI hope everything is easily replaced. I know camera equipment is pricey. :-(
I am so sorry. You have no idea how many times I left sliding door to our back yard open while I was running, shopping, you name it. I never lock them either. Your story makes me rethink it all. It does not take much to keep the house locked, it would cost me a lot of frustration had anyone broken into it.
ReplyDeleteThat effing blows. Damn.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry:( The feeling of being violated is the worst. Hopefully insurance will cover the stolen items. Keep those doors locked and bring pepper spray on your night runs.
ReplyDeleteaw, that stinks. I know what ya mean about the violated feeling ~ our house was "broken into" (well, the doors were unlocked one of those times) 2x when i was growing up and my unlocked car has been entered 2x (different than break in times)too. Better believe i lock everything all the time now! (But just think -- if they wanted in, they would have just caused more damage getting in anyway...broken car window maybe?)
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry. Please take care.
ReplyDeleteoh no! I'm so sorry! I'm thankful that no one was hurt, but it does mess with your sense of security when something like this happens.
ReplyDeleteMy sister's house got robbed on CHRISTMAS DAY while they were out visiting family.
Thieves suck.
Bah. People suck.
ReplyDeleteOnce, when we lived in the ghetto in FL, our locked mini van was stolen from our driveway. It was found a few miles away, abandoned and left running in front of an empty house. The crime scene techs that dusted it for prints said whoever stole it had KIDS IN THE CAR, wearing gloves. THERE WERE KID PRINTS IN THE CAR. Who does that?
And once, here, in the "safest big city in the US", I didn't lock my van door over night, and someone ransacked it and took all this creepy change that was stuck in the middle console - I had left it there for ages because it was all sticky and gross. WTF. Thanks, thieves, I guess.
Moral of the stories: People suck. Hope everything is easily replaced :(
That is the worst feeling, it just leaves you feeling so violated! I had my apartment ransacked in college and it was a mess. My purse was stolen. Jerks.
ReplyDeleteI never lock anything unless I am in town. I keep thinking we should but we never do, seems like such a lot of work.
Sorry you had that happen!
So sorry :(
ReplyDeleteIn our last home, we had a detatched garage, and one night some high school kids broke in, took all the beer, ripped the dvd player screen from our van, and took all our toll money out of both vehicles. But. Then they took black spray paint we had and spray painted curse words all over the back of our fence. Which faced the grammar school playground.
I felt so icky....
Oh that is just AWFUL! I am so glad your family is safe but I understand the 'what if' feeling...and thanks for the wake up call. I have been known to do the same thing too.
ReplyDeleteI hate thieves!! I am so sorry. It really is a feel of being violated! Thank goodness they did not come in the house! A good reminder to lock your doors, and I need to lock my doors in future!
ReplyDeleteSo Sorry :(
Bummer. We live where we sometimes forget to lock cars or close the garage door and haven't paid for it. It'll bite us one day...
ReplyDeleteThat really sucks. Do not forget the lessons learned from last night. Lock your cars. Remove all valuables from your car every night - they will only break in if they see something of value. Lock your house doors. Lock your windows. Lock the entrance door from the garage.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, get the non-emergency number for the Sheriff in your area. Call them when you see people or cars that do not belong. They will send cars to do a drive by.
It sucks this happened but now take the extra precautions to make sure it does not happen again!
Oh man, I'm so sorry to hear about this. That's the worst feeling ever.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about this! My dad walked in on a guy trying to rob our house a couple years ago. To this day it scares the crap out of me thinking what if I had beat dad home from work. Also, when I lived alone, my car was broken into the morning of my grandmother's funeral. I still don't understand that one. There was NOTHING of value in the car and it was in a well-lit parking lot 5 feet from my apartment building's door. The car next to mine had the locks busted out, his dash ripped apart, and his stereo stolen, so I guess I got off easy. It just bothered me that I had to deal with it when I was supposed to be going to my grandmother's funeral.
ReplyDeleteOh NO! So Sorry to hear this - what a terrible feeling :( When my family lived in Panama, we were robbed all the time (our house backed up to a jungle) - and it's the worst feeling ever. I know you are upset (or your husband, rather) but at least everyone is okay and they didn't come into the actual house!! I hope everything can be replaced. And, glad youre safe!
ReplyDeleteoh noooooo... so sorry for you. I had my first car stolen once, when I was a young driver with no money to replace it. It's awful. I'm scared of thieves, always have everything locked, and double checking...
ReplyDeleteThat sucks! I'm sorry that it happened to you!
ReplyDeleteI'm from Maine and my parents do the exact same thing. We even would leave car keys in our unlocked cars in the driveway, up until my car was stolen. They didn't just take my stuff, they actually took my car for a little joy ride and then dumped my car in someone's yard. The idiots left a receipt with one person's name on it though so the cops could find who did it pretty easily. Now I ALWAYS lock my car and our house.
I'm really sorry to hear this happened to you. I live in a "safe" neighborhood as well and last year my boyfriend's Jeep was ransacked as we slept. We just don't think to lock the doors all the time-luckily, as you mentioned we weren't hurt and they didn't try to break into our home.
ReplyDeleteSO sorry. It is truly a very horrible feeling being violated like that.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry! My naive husband did that not so long ago too! A lot was in his truck, but like you I am thankful that they didn't come into our house and hurt any of us.
ReplyDeleteThis is awful. But you know, you're not an idiot, it's not your fault. Some people do shitty things. You SHOULD be able to leave your car unlocked without someone stealing. That sucks. Glad it was just stuff...and hoping your sense of security is back soon.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry this happened...and I know EXACTLY how you feel. My husband and I were burglarized a few years ago and it's an awful, scary feeling. I had nightmares and couldn't sleep for a few nights. No one ever tells you how violated you feel when this happens. Horrible. Thankfully no one was hurt though.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry. That just sucks! We used to live in a gated apartment and my husband always said it just gave people a false sense of security. It just sucks when the awful people in the world prove him right.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for your (and your family's) loss. That sucks ass! I'm glad no one was hurt, but I can't imagine how awful it would feel. My husband has scolded me before for forgetting to lock house doors (cars are are in garage so I don't lock car doors). We don't live in a particularly crime ridden area and I generally feel safe, but he reminds me regularly that it only takes one bad person to ruin our lives temporarily or forever. (((HUGS)))
ReplyDeleteAw, really so sorry! That completely sucks. I can only imagine how violated you all must feel. Thieves are just #$^holes to do that to people.
ReplyDeleteDon't beat yourself up. It is done and there's nothing you can do now but focus on moving forward, not looking back.
Hugs to you!
Ugh. That sucks. I like that your larger family possessions also spill into your garage. I know all about "the path".
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in Baltimore, someone broke into my van. There was absolutely nothing of value (diapers, dora story book) to be found inside. They stole nothing. It cost me $600 to repair the damaged window and door. Now ... I leave the thing unlocked.
This sucks. I hate people who do things like that and hurt others.
ReplyDeletemakes me so mad
When I was 8 I broke my wrist. My stay at home mom took me to the ER. She usually would never leave the house during the day. That day she had to. When we came home I had a cast and we had been robbed. They left a huge mess in our home. I can still see it in my head. It turned out to be the sons of the neighboor who saw us leave and who knew nobody was home.
I feel so bad for you.
you are NOT an idiot. I forgot to say that.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a horrible feeling. So sorry you guys are going through that.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm SO sorry to hear that!
ReplyDeleteI've been there (on the car-theft side of things) so I know what it feels like.
#1 - Nothing you did makes this your fault. This is entirely the fault of the thief(s).
#2 - Keep that perspective -- no one was hurt. When it comes down to it, that's what matters most.
)HUGS!(
Oh my gosh, how awful for you! Ugh! That is so awful. *HUGS*
ReplyDeleteThat really sucks but I'm glad everyone is ok. I'm with Kate. You shouldn't have to lock your car or house to keep people from taking your stuff.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about this! Yes, when you're burglarized, it does feel like you've been violated. I'm glad no one was hurt, and yes, all of the items taken can be replaced.
ReplyDeleteThat is horrible! I am so sorry that you've had to go through this experience. What a blessing that you are all safe and nothing irreplaceable was taken. I am not the best at keeping doors locked but I will do better now. Keep safe!
ReplyDeleteMaaaaan! You are so lucky they took the stuff and ran. They were in your home while you and your family were asleep! This is horrible, and yes, I know it's too bad they took hubby's photography equipment, but I'm just relieved they left. So glad you're all ok...maybe a little bruised emotionally, but you're ok. Phew...
ReplyDeleteoh, I am so sorry Marjorie. This is an awful feeling. I know what you mean about being violated and feeling so awful. This happened to Waylon right before we got married. They took all of our wedding presents we had for our wedding party and my ring. :( It wasn't much but it was a lot to us at the age we were. So awful. I was so angry. Just wanted someone to blame at the time.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry this happened! I got pickpocketed in Paris once and I know exactly what you mean about feeling violated even if what was taken is replaceable. I cannot even imagine what it would feel like to have someone come into your home. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteThat sucks! I'm so sorry. I'm so glad that you are all safe and personally question the door to door salespeople. There's a usual scam of knocking on doors in a neighborhood to see who is home and then going back to break in.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are all able to find a bit of comfort in your home soon.
Sucks.
OH goodness. I am so sorry. don't be so hard on yourself. We all get like this. many people leave doors unlocked etc. I am so glad everyone is ok. I know other things can be replaced, but it is ok to be upset. go for a run, don't beat yourself up.
ReplyDeleteOh no! I'm sorry. :( Ugh, that is such a violating feeling!! I'm so glad they stuck to the garage and didn't try to come into your house!
ReplyDeleteSo very sorry. I had a car broken into twice, once on my honeymoon.... And my wife wonders why I lock the doors when I am just running inside to get my coat.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry. That happened to us too. Once I left the garage open in the evening. I went to close it before going to bed and the car door was open...laptop, palm pilot (this was a while ago) all gone. The thieves went in to the car WHILE WE WERE SITTING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL. yikes. I get how violated you feel.
ReplyDeleteEven if you live in the safest neighborhood, opportunistic thieves are everywhere. Hopefully, it was just teenagers and not some sort of "crime spree."
OMG I am so angry just reading this. I am so sorry :( I hope the police find those little buggers. I bet they're just teens....probably LIVE in the neighbourhood. If I were you I'd go around telling EVERYONE about it and put up signs saying what was stolen. That way if it was just some teens, the parents may be able to help you get the stuff back. I know if my kid came home with some new stuff I;d question it :) Good luck! xoxoxox
ReplyDeleteI will never ever understand people. EVER. I am so sorry that you got stuff stolen. jerks.
ReplyDeleteOh my God, I am so sorry! A chill went down my spine when I saw the word "Kirby." A goofy young guy came to our door yesterday wanting to clean our carpet. Thankfully my husband answered the door and essentially told him to beat it. We joked that he was just casing the joint. Oh man. Once again, I am so sorry!
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, I am so very sorry! Absolutely sucks! We don't live in a gated community but I've always felt pretty safe here...yet I hear stories of robberies now and then and so I get a little freaked at night and make sure everything is locked. I just have a lot of anxiety about that stuff. Anyway, I hope your insurance is able to replace it all...and so thankful you guys are all ok!
ReplyDeleteAw, I'm sorry!! Thinking of you my fav running mama!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear of your burglary. Try not to let it get you down. As you said, they took things that can be replaced (and didn't hurt you).
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry and this makes me so angry!!! It sucks you guys now dont feel safe in your own home. Reason # 3million I hate stupid people.
ReplyDelete