I Felt Violated for the First Time in a Long Time!
We seldom lock our vehicles that we park in the driveway behind our house. That's how safe we felt about the relatively small and lovely southern city (with a major state university) where we have been living for the last 25 years.
Until today! As I was trying to leave to go to a neighboring state for a family business trip, I noticed that the door was not well closed. For a second, I thought that I or my spouse might have forgotten to shut the door all the way the night before!
Then I noticed that the glove compartment was wide open and some of its contents were down on the floor. And since the intruder could not easily open the other compartment between the driver and the front passenger seat, they just force pulled it out and left it damaged.
After looking around, we noticed that my wife's car was not well closed either. They must have gone in it as well, but no sign of any missing items either.
I still felt violated by the simple fact that while we were asleep, somebody had the idea of breaking into our vehicles for whatever purposes.
What were the intruders trying to find? Probably items of more value than what they found in place! I have not been able to determine what was missing yet, if anything.
Moral of the story: The area where we live is not as safe as I used to think it to be. I had to call the police to report the act of vandalization that must have happened between 11 PM the night before and the early wee hours the morning. I had to postpone my business trip to later date, pending availability of the business partners.
What is sad about this whole situation is my loss of feeling that we are at safe place and the realization that there is no longer such a place. So much for the Loveliest Village on the Plains!
And yes, we are going to be locking our vehicles every night from now on as if we were in an urban downtown area. So, should you!
Upon hearing what happened to us, four of our five children sent suggestions, recommendations and, yes, new prescriptions to how to conduct ourselves from now on.
Besides locking all the doors all the time and re-installing all the security gadgets, is there anything else you can suggest to us?
And are there not some people at WA who still live in areas where they do not have to barricade themselves inside their homes when asleep and lock up everything of value that is left outside?
Please let me know so that my family can escape near you, for a piece of mind!
Ntam
[this is the kind of stories that I plan to use on our second website, still to come]
Reply
This has happened to both of us several times, independently and since we have been together. About 10 times. Vehicle and house break-ins. Not only in London and South West England, where we used to live but also in the Caribbean. Unfortunately, petty thieves are a global pest.
The only place we ever lived and worked where crime did not exist was the tiny island of Saba in the Netherlands Antilles. The houses there do not even have locks for there is no need. Population about 1500 souls, half black and half white islanders in complete harmony. Zero crime. It simply does not exist. It was amazing. In fact, it was surreal.
Here on the coast of Ecuador we don't have much crime either however what you experienced also exists here.
You have to lock things up and realize there is no other choice. Most people are very good, it's the few that perpetrate these awful things.
We feel so deeply for you in this terrible event. One suggestion is that you might get a couple of large, adult dogs from your rescue shelter. You will be saving their lives and giving them a job to do where they will alert you should any intruders come near. They can be outside guard dogs and they will serve as your protectors.
When these cowards hear barking dogs that are large, they move on.
Just remember one very important fact. You were not in your cars. They did not touch you or your wife which would have been far, far worse.
Please let us know the updates of what you decide to do.
We are thinking of you,
your friends,
Colette and Philip
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with this unfortunate phenomena. I heard from a lot of people, all describing how widespread this kind of thievery is nowadays. And all are recommending the same measures, except you added the dog.
Unfortunately, I did not grow up around dogs and I am still afraid of them! I remember several years ago buying a small beautiful German Sheppard for my son who wanted it, and readily agreed since I was trying to fight the fear of dogs myself.
In a matter of months that small dog grew up to be still beautiful, but bigger and menacing (to me). Champ (its name) sensed fear in me and my son, he started to take charge and not listening to any of us. Only my wife and in particular her mother could handle Champ.
One day the 2 came home late and found me, my son and my youngest daughter standing on the couch away from Champ. The following weekend we gave him to my administrative assistant who loved dogs and lived in a place with enough space for dogs to run and play around.
And do you know, as funny as this world tends to be, the dog is the mascot for my tribe/clan? Go figure!!
Your friends,
Ntam and Bernice
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with this unfortunate phenomena. I heard from a lot of people, all describing how widespread this kind of thievery is nowadays. And all are recommending the same measures, except you added the dog.
Unfortunately, I did not grow up around dogs and I am still afraid of them! I remember several years ago buying a small beautiful German Sheppard for my son who wanted it, and readily agreed since I was trying to fight the fear of dogs myself.
In a matter of months that small dog grew up to be still beautiful, but bigger and menacing (to me). Champ (its name) sensed fear in me and my son, he started to take charge and not listening to any of us. Only my wife and in particular her mother could handle Champ.
One day the 2 came home late and found me, my son and my youngest daughter standing on the couch away from Champ. The following weekend we gave him to my administrative assistant who loved dogs and lived in a place with enough space for dogs to run and play around.
And do you know, as funny as this world tends to be, the dog is the mascot for my tribe/clan? Go figure!!
Your friends,
Ntam and Bernice
Dogs will take charge if they do not sense another leader. They are the most wonderful creatures, once you understand them. We are graduates of The Animal Behavior College and had our own Dog training/pet business.
We understand. It takes a lot of work to get over your fear of dogs.
Well, we hope this doesn't happen to you again. Stay safe.
Wishing you all the best.
Thanks a bunch for commenting on my predicament of two days ago.
Ntam
Thanks a bunch for commenting on my predicament of two days ago.
Ntam
