Locks only keep out honest people
by HML
I think most people have heard the news by now: at the end of February we came home from church to find that our home had been burglarized. Our doors and windows were locked, and the locks were new, but the burglar broke the lock on a basement window facing the back yard. Some small electronics and computer parts were stolen, including the laptop, but fortunately not the desktop computer. The digital cameras were also stolen, so no new pictures on GimletBlog until we can find a suitable replacement. A jar full of pocket change was also taken, and the real heartbreaker is the loss of all my jewelry. Fortunately we have insurance, and had kept an up-to-date list of serial numbers which we gave to the police and the insurance company. Some of the jewelry had individual insurance appraisals as well. It’s unlikely any of our things will be returned, but detailed information about lost possessions helps with the insurance claim.
Lessons learned:
- If possible, keep valuables out of plain sight when not in use. The burglar took small items that were out on desktops or tabletops, that could easily fit in a backpack. He must have moved through the house very quickly; some rooms such as the boys’ bedrooms and the living and family rooms appear to have been left alone. Certain valuables which are often taken in household burglaries were not stolen from our home, because they were in a drawer, or a cupboard or closet, out of sight.
- None of you are foolish enough to hide jewelry in a bureau drawer, right? That’s where my jewelry was, which just happens to be the #1 place thieves search. While the burglar didn’t bother with several rooms, he turned the master bedroom upside down looking for valuables. If you own any family heirlooms, “special occasion” jewelry, or any valuables you would be heartbroken over losing, I’d strongly suggest finding a different place in the house to keep them.
We are having the greatest difficulty dealing with the loss of peace and security, but it gets better, little by little, every day. We’re so glad nobody was hurt, and thankful that many things that could have been stolen were not. Identity theft doesn’t appear to be an issue (nothing of that nature was taken), which is a great relief.
