Stolen....

What a fucking shitter of a week we've all had here.  We were robbed last Tuesday, the bastards broke into our home right under our noses and stole our laptop, the expensive digital camera I got for Christmas and tons of jewellery of Kim's that no amount of money could replace - things which held great sentimental value.

Kim was out quilting that night, I'd just got back in from delivering leaflets and the chap who shares a flat in the same house as ours asked if I wanted to go round for a drink and to watch a bit of tv, I said I'd just change and be there in a short while.  I left two (out of three) lights on in the house, I locked the front door and then walked all of 20 yards to where he is.  We could hear the rain falling outside the window and cars driving past on the road outside but we heard no burglary taking place and it was only when Kim came round a little while later that we knew anything was wrong.  We were both shocked.  I'd been gone less than an hour.  At one point during the evening, I was very nearly going to return to our place to pick up a DVD to watch.  I'm glad I didn't because I could have walked in while they were there. 

What horrified me was the fact I hadn't banked on seeing the neighbour that day at all, I was planning on getting back from the leaflet run, taking a shower and then retiring to the bedroom and listening to the iRiver (iPod) and in that state, I wouldn't have been able to hear anything at all.  I could have been laying on the bed when the fuckers walked in.  The cats had been in the bedroom (hence why I left the lights on) and they were terrified by what had happened and they've followed us around like little lost sheep ever since, it's been very traumatic for them.  When we got back in to survey the damage, we couldn't find Atticus anywhere.  The front door was left wide open and we were worried he had got out but thankfully after much calling, he appeared from under the bed before going back and staying there for ages after.

We called the police and they told us a fingerprint crew would be over at the earliest opportunity.  He duly arrived the next day but told us what we didn't want to hear, that the culprit had worn gloves.  He also told us to get on with our lives because whoever had broken in was off doing it someplace else and they rarely come back.  We have since discovered this to be erroneous not just due to personal experience but every internet site we've looked at regarding security measures after the event have quite clearly stated that robbers do come back and usually within the first three months because they know you will have more than likely replaced all the things lost by then so I'm not quite sure why the officer said what he did.  

Two days later, we discovered we had a prowler on the premises which left us in much the same state as we were before.  Kim had returned home from the local supermarket, I was in bed reading.  I heard what I thought was the front door opening but then heard feet outside so thought I must have imagined it and that Kim was still out there but at that moment, Kim walked in and I knew what we were hearing around the house had to be someone else.  I walked across to the bathroom window and listened and there were two voices (none I recognised) and they were under the house in our carport talking amongst themselves.  I heard one distinctly say "that will teach them" and then they both sniggered. 

Kim called the police.  They arrived about 15 minutes later.  It was a man and a woman.  The male officer was smirking and thought it was a big joke, he told us there was no one about and then they both fucked off!  They didn't stay to look around, just got in their cars and left.  I was appalled.  What if Kim had been raped?  What if we'd been murdered in our beds?  I thought the English police were pretty awful but they come across as masterminds compared to what we've experienced thus far of the Australian force.  There's such a sense of apathy over here that it's unreal.  Most crimes of this nature go unreported because they know the cops are almost powerless to act.  It's shocking! 

What shook us so much regarding this incident (police incompetence aside) was the fact that whoever it was must have been on the premises at the time Kim returned because there was barely a second between Kim returning and shutting the front door and us hearing footsteps along the side of the house.  Our carport is open to the street so if Kim had driven up to it, someone would have been easily seen.  The same had they had been standing by the side of the house or by the road.  The only option left is the laundry room.  Kim must have walked right past whoever it was and that's what creeps us both out.  It was only later that we discovered the ladder in the laundry room had been moved and none of the other residents here had touched it.  We believe they were going to try again because it's only one of our windows which is high enough to warrant such a move. 

As I mentioned earlier, contrary to what we'd been told they had come back and were willing to rob us again.  As you can imagine, it's not been a good week.  B&E (Breaking & Entering) crimes are rife here (one occurring every minute) and the police only catch whoever's done it in 5% of the cases, there's also a high risk of repeat offending in homes which have recently been broken into because they know that householders are more than likely to replace what's been lost as soon as they can.  People who commit these types of crimes are utter scumbags because they don't just steal 'things' they also take treasured memories and violate property leaving victims unsettled and apprehensive. 

I've gone from someone who'll wave and say hello to people to someone who's now somewhat guarded and I'm wondering all the time "could this be the person who did it?"  It's a horrible way to think.  Just last night, I saw someone walking along the road who I thought was suspicious and there was a confrontation where none was needed.  Thankfully, he was very good about it but I felt like a louse after.  If it wasn't for the cats I wouldn't feel so on edge, I'm not saying I'd get used to coming home and finding stuff gone but when there are defenceless creatures here it does put a different spin on things.  Take things by all means just don't hurt us.

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