Sunday, May 18, 2008
We were robbed while on vacation!
A while back I wrote about how I needed to declutter our house. I never imagined that I'd be forced to de-clutter to an extent by getting robbed!Yes, while we were on vacation, our house was broken into (the robber(s) somehow forced open our sliding glass door in the back of the house) and many rooms were ransacked. Drawers and boxes were thrown on the floor and overturned, with papers and clothes scattered everywhere.
Oronzo's sister was actually the one to discover the break-in when she stopped by the day before yesterday to pick up something that she wanted to borrow. She contacted us in Mexico to let us know.
I spent the rest of our vacation stressing about the robbery, wondering what had been taken and feeling angry that someone felt they had the right to break into our house to steal from us! Coming home to the mess late last night was awful! We tried to shield Snuggle Bug from the mess as much as possible. Thankfully his room wasn't too bad. The girls' room was a mess but they're too young to notice and we tackled their room first to set it right.
Here's the list of things that I've noticed thus far that were stolen:
* Princess cut ruby in gold band setting (This was a family heirloom. It was a gift from my aunt that was given to my mother on her high school graduation day. My aunt, whom I was named after, died when I was very young. My mom treasured this ring and as a little girl she told me it would one day be mine. She gave it to me last year. I was honored to have it and I treasured it greatly. Now it's gone, stolen and probably pawned by now. This is the one item that hurts me the most to have stolen because of the sentimental value.).* Pear shaped ruby necklace and matching ruby earrings (gifts from Oronzo for one of my birthdays). These can be easily replaced.
* Custom made Mother's Day necklace with Snuggle Bug's birthstone set in it. This breaks my heart that it's gone but Oronzo thinks he can go back to the jeweler and have it re-created.
* My celtic cross from Ireland. I guess I'll have to go back to Ireland and find another one.
* About $200 worth of costume jewelry.
* My Palm Tungsten T2 PDA.
* An old Nikon CoolPix 5400 digital camera.
* About $100 in change that I was collecting in a big jar in my bedroom.
* My mountain bike (and Oronzo's as well, along with the child carrier that he had attached to his bike).
* A laptop NIC.
* Oronzo's iPod Shuffle.
* Oronzo's big jar of change from his office.
It freaks me out to think that someone (or several people) were in our house, tearing through our drawers, the children's rooms, and creating a huge mess in the process. I feel violated! We live in a nice, quiet neighborhood but that doesn't matter.
Looking back, I realize we might have done things to prevent this from happening. We could've asked our neighbors or Oronzo's sister to check in on our house frequently. We could've left at least one of our cars in the driveway to make it appear as though someone was home. We could've had better locks on our sliding glass door. We could've had our important jewelry locked up in a safety deposit box instead of assuming they'd be safe in our home.
In speaking with the police, we were told that they believe they're on to a man who they think is committing several burglaries in our area ON BICYCLE. This man goes in and only steals what he can carry on a bike. None of our big electronics were taken. Thankfully we had our laptops and good cameras and the camcorder with us on vacation. I can't help but think that whoever robbed us was not on bicycle. I think they walked into our back yard, broke in our house, stole the small stuff, and rode out on our bikes. Nice, eh?!
Oronzo, ever the optimist, said that we need to be thankful that they didn't clean out our entire house (they had 8 days to do so) or that we weren't in town when it happened and stumbled upon them in the midst of robbing us and endangered us or the children as a result. And everything that was stolen is replaceable (except for the ring from my deceased aunt) and they are only possessions and therefor not all that important after all. I wish I could focus on the positives but I'm just feeling depressed about our house being trampled through by strangers! Yuck!
Now I wonder, do I tell my mom about the ring being stolen or do I wait until she asks after it? What would you do?
Has your house ever been broken in to? How long did it take you to feel safe in it again?
35 Comments:
Oh my what a terrible experience! I'm so sorry you guys have to experience this.
I'll be thinking of you and praying you feel safe soon.
Take Care,
Trixie
Oh No! Oh I'm so sorry!! What a horrible thing to have happen. I'm so sorry about the ring. That's just heartbreaking. I'm glad no one was home when it happened and I hope they catch him/her/them.
What an awful way to end a vacation.
I've been robbed twice. Once when I was very young, our house was broken into. I was probably around 5 years old. I begged my dad to let me open the front door. I made so much noise trying to get it open and then told my dad it wouldn't work. I remember him being exasperated with me for about a second until he realized it wasn't working because it was broken. My noise actually scared away the burglar. When we went inside, our TV was sitting on the dining room table by the open sliding glass door. I don't remember worrying about it at all afterwards.
The second time was about six years ago. We're pretty sure it was teenagers. Jim forgot to close the garage door. They stole his camera bag with his good camera and multiple expensive lenses out of our unlocked car and a case of beer we had left over from a 4th of July party out of our garage refrigerator.
We haunted pawn shops for a few weeks looking for that camera, but I doubt the kids were smart enough to pawn it.
I would tell your mother and then haunt some pawn shops.
I'm so sorry you've had to deal with this! I've never had my home robbed, just cars broken into and our garage door opened once, which was scarey enough.
I think you should tell you mom about the ring, then you can mourn the loss of this heirloom together. Since you have a photo (I assume that's it), maybe you could have copies made someday for your children in memory of your aunt?
Oh that's horrible! I'm glad you found out about it before you just walked in on it, though. I hope they catch whoever did this.
I've never been broken in to, but one of my fears is someone breaking in while we're home and sleeping.
I would tell your mom about the ring. She can help you grieve over it.
Oh no, I am so sorry to hear about this. My parents' house was broken into last summer while they were on vacation. I was going over there daily to take care of their cats. The robbery was interrupted, probably by ME as I pulled into the driveway for my evening visit. They left a pillow case of spoils and slipped out the back. They may have even still been in the house because I ran back outside to call the police, and they could've gone out the back at that time. It was a very scary event, but no major damage was done, thankfully.
I hope you and your family recover from the shock and sadness as quickly as possible.
I'm so sorry. That is one of my biggest fears. I'm glad you were able to shield Snuggle Bug from most of it!
HOw awful - so sorry this happened. At least, as your husband said, you weren't home and in harm's way. Thankfully, I've never been robbed, but I can certainly understand why you feel violated and not safe.
I'm so sorry that this happened to you. I've never had my home broken into, but my car was stolen from in front of my house about ten years ago. The feeling of having been violated was horrible.
A couple of suggestions re: the ring. First, keep an eye on e-bay for the next few months. Also, if you have time, I suggest that you make up a flyer describing the ring, including the photo and the circumstances re: the ring being stolen. Fax, mail, or e-mail it to the pawn and antique shops within 50 - 100 miles of your home. I helped one of my friends do something similar when an heirloom ring was stolen from her home. She didn't hear anything and after three months (and again at six months) she sent out the same flyers again. About eight months later, a teenage kid brought her ring into an antique shop about 50 miles from her home trying to sell it. The owner recognized the ring, the person was arrested, and the ring was eventually returned to her. It was definitely a job, but it was worth it to her in the long run. I think it also helped her at that time to feel like she could DO something. She didn't feel so helpless. Anyway, I wish you the best of luck, and hope you'll be feeling safe in your home again very soon.
My prayers are with you. My in-laws are going through the same thing, they were robbed last week too.
What an awful experience. Im so sorry to hear of this. Im so glad you all were not home.
My parents had there house broken into about 12 years ago..they were moving into a new house, and waiting for the old house to sell. They broke threw the bathroom window. I dont know what they took, but they didnt take any electronics either.
Im glad you all are safe. I hope the rest of your vacation was wonderful.
Oh..I would definitely tell your mom now..it might be worse later.
This happened to my family when I was in high school. I felt very violated. That they had rifled through my things was very disturbing as a teenager. It took me a while to really feel safe in my house again, but it did happen.
So sorry you are having to go through this.
Oh how horrible!! It is so sad people have to result to thievery...Maybe you can scout out the local pawn shope to look for your ruby ring???
I am so sorry this has happened to your family.
I would tell your mother now. She will be sad for and with you, not angry at you.
What a terrible thing to return to...I'm so sorry!
We were robbed when I was about 6 years old and I remembered my parents were upset but I don't remember it bothering me too much. When my car was stolen in my 20s, that freaked me out, so I can understand how violated you felt. I pray you are able to forget it soon.
I would tell your mom about the ring and go to all the pawn shops you can find, with a picture of the ring and a reward for finding it (some might not want to tell you they found it without a reward, since it's stolen).
I, too, am sorry that this happened to you. I'll keep you in my prayers. I've never had my house robbed, but I did have my purse stolen practically right out from under my nose and once someone took a bat to my car windows. both times is was creepy and discouraging and made me look over my shoulder for weeks.
I am so sorry that this happened to you. When we first moved into the house we live in now I thought it would be fun to plant the planter that my mom gave me as a gift for my first mother's day with some flowers and put it on our doorstep. The next day I went out to water the plants and found the planter missing and the plants scattered all around. I was devastated because of how special the planter was to me, not because it was really worth all that much. I hope that somehow that ring is returned to you.
I'm so sorry to hear this! How heartbreaking. I'd call every pawn shop in the area and the next city over and see if they have any of your jewelery. Have you thought of having a bolted down safe? I think the ring is probably the most heartbreaking loss. I am so so sorry!!! Hopefully the police catch that man. :(
And Praise God your family was not in the house when it happened!!! The Lord will be in charge of your safety! He has always kept you safe. ;)
Praying for you all!!!
First of all what a wonderful blessing that you all were away on vacation and not in the home when this happened!!
I am SO SORRY that this happened to you, I can't imagine the feelings that you all are experiencing. We will be praying for you.
Kellies suggestions were fabulous, we aregoing to hope and pray that you are able to recover your ring.
My husbands grandparents were robbed a few years ago and they learned that if you call your local pd and let them know, they will drive by your home and check things out. Maybe they offer this in your neighborhood for future use?
I'm so sorry that happened to you and your family.. And yes, So thankful your weren't hurt..
God bless you and keep you safe..
ACK! How terrible! I'm so sorry this happened to you but praising God that no one was harmed!!
I have never had my house broken into but there was an attempt made in the middle of the night when I was a teenager. I heard them, woke up my parents and the police were called.
I'm so sorry it did to you!
That's terrible! I'm so sorry this happened to you, and I am so sorry you lost that ring. (It might be worth a visit to your local pawn shop...) Glad that no one was hurt, and I'm praying for you.
Oh I am so sorry to hear this. It feels so violating doesn't it? I had a ring from my grandmother stolen from our house years ago so I know the loss of your ring!! I hope they find these somewhere!!
I know exactly how you feel! We were robbed last year while my daughter and I were at Disneyland and my husband was at work. They took everything, my cameras and computers that had all my 2nd daughters 1st year of pictures on them. They went through every room and every drawer and cupboard they could find. They had our tvs and some other things in staging. The cops say that there were at least 15 kids in a matter of two hours and it happened about 4-5 we live on a very busy corner too. They caught 2 of the kids but everything was gone and they just got a slap on the wrist and they are supposed to be paying us back. We've never gone back to normal, we are moving out of here now.
I sure hope they catch them soon!
How awful. I know how violated you feel because yes, it's happened to us once. In St. Louis. Our townhome was broken into and oddly, the only things taken were a CB radio, fifty rolls of pennies I'd spent forever rolling the night before and food from my pantry. In our case, it turned out to be a runaway teen who was actually living in a vacant townhome in the complex and breaking into all of our homes, looking for food, during the day when everyone was at work. Still, it felt horrible to know a stranger had gone through our things.
I'm so sorry this happened to you and if it were me, I'd not mention the ring unless she asked about it. Spare her the upset if you can.
I admire your husband for trying to look on the brighter side. He's absolutely right that it could have been much worse, had you been home when it happened.
never happened to me, but it has to my sister. She actually pulled onto her street during her lunch hour and saw the car backed into her garage. The thieves saw her and sped away - and she chased them down the road as she was on 911 with the police telling them exactly where they were. But, they got away. And, it was 2 days before Christmas and they took all her gifts under her tree.
I'd tell your mom now. It's not your fault it got stolen and not worth you worrying about telling/not telling her.
I am sorry...
I am so sorry...that is just aweful. It serves as a reminder to be as careful as we can. But ultimatly your husband is right.
I will be praying that you begin to feel safe again.
Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry! We have never been robbed (thank goodness), but I understand that feeling of being violated and not safe. I hope you can get things back to normal soon.
oh my goodness! I am so sorry. I have not experienced the same fate but people that I know have say it is less about the stuff and more about the violation. Many hugs. And tell your mom, she'll understand.
How terribly awful. I've never had anything like that happen to me. I don't understand how someone could do such a terrible thing.
Oh I'm so sorry. I hope karma bites this thief in the but one day.
Have you checked pawn shops? Maybe your treasures will turn up there.
Oh my! I can't believe this happened to you! How awful to come back from vacation to find your home ransacked. I can only imagine the feeling of knowing someone has gone through your things. I don't understand people that feel they can take from others like that. I'm so sorry this happened to you guys!
Joe would be the same way as Oronzo (they sound a lot alike!) being optimist and focusing on all the "positives" of not being home etc.
I hope they can find the perp who did this!
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