h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In the early hours of yesterday morning, Gordon's home was burgled. Entry was gained through the rear of the house; they found his keys and legged it with his car as well as 2 TVs, 2 clocks, laptop, cash left out for the cleaner, kitchen house phone handset (must have thought it was a mobile phone?) and the projector which we use for our Blue Cross talks. They tried to wrench the large TV off the wall in the lounge but failed. The police were thorough and found his car quite quickly, that's still with SOCO but hopefully he'll get it back today.

I am counting our blessings that no-one in the house was hurt, especially Snoopy who is a Jack Russell, I don't know if they *knew* him, or that just because he didn't bark or attack them, they left him alone.

Suffice to say that new security measures are being put into place, this was Gordon's first burglary and he intends it being the last.

I am still upset at the thought of what might have been and last night was scared to go to bed for the first time since I've been living alone. It's not a nice feeling, I hope it soon goes.

I can really feel for you. Having been burgled twice, the second a year to the day from the first, I know exactly how it feels. The second was worse as they lifted the patio door out, trashing the frame, and walking great gobs of mud through the house.
I hope the house will be secured qui July, and insurance are kind.

and

MMF

This is awful to hear I hope things get sorted quickly, and that it never happens again to you

Oh how awful! That must be very difficult to face. Wishing you both strength and courage.

Sorry to hear this, GB. Give my best regards to Gordon and tell him we're thinking of him. I've been lucky enough never to have been burgled, but I imagine it feels like having been walked over by a faceless monster.

Bring back hanging I say

I will pass on your best wishes to Gordon, thank you my dear friends.

I know that feeling Maestro, maybe not that extreme but at least some deterrent might be welcome.

My sympathies, GB. We've never been burgled, but my sister has. These people have no scruples - and sometimes they do weird things. I hope Gordon gets decent compensation.

Thanks TC

Update: Gordon now has his car back (the police must have given him a lift as he didn't call me) and he's gone shopping for padlocks, etc. As he's emailed me I can only assume his laptop was also recovered, unless he's learned to use the email facility on his mobile phone

Being burgled in the night is a really vile thing to happen. I hope they catch the thieves.

I'm so sorry to hear this. Please give my sympathy to Gordon.
A friend of mine was burgled once, and she felt awful for ages afterwards. It wasn't only the stolen things, but the lack of feeling safe in her own home, and the knowledge that some stranger had searched through all her possessions which made it a lot worse for her.

Not good. Lets hope they catch them and they get what they deserve. We might be in austere times but there's no need for people thieving.
Now we're in a warm spell its worth remembering to make sure you all lock doors and windows even if just popping out for 5 minutes. The thieving so and so's are quick to spot a window left open in this weather.

I was once a victim of this 3 times in six months. I know exactly how this feels although with us it was during the day when we were at work - not during the night when we were in - that's really sinister.

From experience of that - be particularly careful when your insurance comes through as they may be back for the pickings of that. Might sound harsh but it happened to us.
Our second one was one month to the day of the first.
Also, you're a victim twice as the insurance company can treat you like it was your fault - multiplying premiums and imposing special conditions such as insistence on burglar alarms being fitted.

Best you can do is remain vigilant, make sure all doors and windows are locked if possible at all times. Make sure you put that invisible pen on all your stuff too. We eventually got most of our stuff back as it was security marked. Took a couple of years but we eventually got our own back on the insurance company. They'd replaced my stolen stereo so when recovered the original was theoretically their property - but of course they're not interested in it, so they casually ask for you to 'pop it over to them.'
Well, not being paid to be their delivery boy I accidentally forgot to drop it off after picking it up and ended up with two nice stereo systems

Hope you're both bearing up well - it's not a nice experience.

So to hear that GB, I hope you get your confidence back soon and that Gordon is I was burgled many, many years ago, and the dusted fingerprints which we had to leave for a while thoroughly spooked me!

Thieves tried to take the lead off my bay roof once when I was about to go on holiday. A thick coat of vandal paint eased my mind and put a stop to it, but of course not many places are suitable for such stuff.

Websailor

Or us, that is what happened to me. The we're sure they'd kept a 'book' and were hoping everything had been replaced. It hadn't as I was uninsured. And the second time was worse as I felt totally insecure, being by myself, and both had occurred while out on a gig. Not good to discover at 03:00 in the
Morning. Really hope the upset disappears quickly and is soon resolved. Especially the Blue Cross laptop.

MMF

We had burglary some 22 years ago. It's a horrid feeling having the sanctuary of your home invaded. Glad to hear the police have acted quickly.
I too, was worried they'd return, but they didn't. Good luck getting the insurance sorted.

also glad no one was hurt and that you both recover from the shock soon

Hello Galaxy Babe, I'm sorry to hear this! It is a traumatic experience. A few years ago people broke into our house (back when it was still 'our' house) while we were still in it. You may remember since I posted about it. Anyways we chased them out and they didn't get much, just a briefcase that we did get back a bit later. But it was a very frightening experience. Here in South Africa thousands of people have been killed during burglaries.

Thanks everyone, thank goodness violent burglaries are rare here but that doesn't make the experience of your own home being violated and your possessions stolen any easier to live with. The feeling of being safe in your own home is gone, for some it's so traumatic they have to move house. Gordon's selling up anyway, as soon as the students leave there'll be just him and Snoopy in that great big house. I wouldn't want to live there! Hopefully a fresh start will help put this nasty episode behind him.