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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by octopusprime on December 9, 2003, at 20:30:34
sitting here waiting for the cops to come
somebody broke into my apartment through the sliding glass door
the only thing missing is my stereo
(i just lost one last year in this place - that time i left the window unlocked, this time they actually busted up the locks)
but still, police, fingerprints, etc etcthere is a saving grace to all this
they were picking up some xmas presents that i wrapped and put them in a pillowcase (they were bought by my office for a party later this week, they're here for "safe keeping")
the thieves decided *not* to take them.
so i get to keep my xmas
but i lost my peace of mind
time to move feb 1please give warm fuzzy supportive vibes
Posted by octopusprime on December 9, 2003, at 20:31:18
In reply to breakin, posted by octopusprime on December 9, 2003, at 20:30:34
ps i need a hug but there is nobody i can call to give me one :'(
bah!
Posted by Dinah on December 9, 2003, at 20:55:31
In reply to breakin, posted by octopusprime on December 9, 2003, at 20:30:34
Warm fuzzy supportive vibes coming your way.
Glad you weren't home.
Posted by Wildflower on December 9, 2003, at 20:56:31
In reply to breakin, posted by octopusprime on December 9, 2003, at 20:30:34
I'm so sorry that this has happened to you. It can't be easy for you right now but it's important to be thankful that you were not home and that you weren't physically harmed.
I'm glad to hear that you'll be moving...
Posted by shar on December 9, 2003, at 21:17:16
In reply to breakin, posted by octopusprime on December 9, 2003, at 20:30:34
Amazing. I've never had a break-in except for when my son and his friends were teens and he forgot his keys. They were not at all good at it, as they left broken windows and the neighbors all told me about it.
First, I'm glad you are safe. Second, I'm glad the Christmas gifts are safe. Third, I'm so sorry you had to experience this!
Is moving the only option? Do you live in a dangerous area? Better locks won't do it?
Shar
Posted by fallsfall on December 9, 2003, at 21:28:48
In reply to Re: breakin » octopusprime, posted by shar on December 9, 2003, at 21:17:16
I'm sorry that you have to experience this.
My house was broken into many decades ago, New Year's Eve, when I was a senior in high school (many centuries?). They stole some things from my parent's room (but I don't remember what), from me they took only one thing. It was a ring that my first serious boyfriend had given me on our 1st anniversary. A star sapphire in a white gold setting, with a tiny diamond.
The feeling of invasion was horrific. We quickly got a burglar alarm installed, but it took a while to feel safe.
I am 47, and I miss that ring. There aren't really many material possessions that are important to me. That ring was important. Some day I'll look around until I can find a ring just like it.
I'm hoping that you will feel safety soon.
Posted by octopusprime on December 9, 2003, at 22:07:11
In reply to Re: breakin » shar, posted by fallsfall on December 9, 2003, at 21:28:48
thanks fallsfall, shar, dinah, and wildflower for the (()) and support
((fallsfall)) for losing her special ring. fortunately i did not lose anything special - although i did notice before the cops got here that the bags of candy that were supposed to be wrapped with the presents have disappeared! good stuff too - ferrero rochers (sp?) and everything!
i think it might be a good idea to move, but i'll give myself until the end of the month to decide, so i can give a month's notice and save up the deposit.
the cops think that the guys that broke in got scared and might return. the cops said i should clean up my place (it's a sty, damn depression) and set a clean jar of change as a honeypot for the crooks. cops said he didn't want to scare me, but i don't like the idea of baiting thieves in my own apartment. i live on the ground floor, and although the landlord promised to improve the locks, the patio door slides on the outside, and i'm not sure what can really be done.
i live near a major transit hub, two methadone clinics, and a pawn shop. (it's nice if you walk north of my joint, though!) i'm visiting the pawn shop first thing in the morning to see if they have my stereo. i know what cd's were in it.
maybe i should think about a new apartment by the beach.
((everyone))
Posted by kara lynne on December 9, 2003, at 23:49:23
In reply to breakin, posted by octopusprime on December 9, 2003, at 20:30:34
Oh Octo,
I'm so sorry. I'm glad you're going to move. How are you doing now, after the police have come and gone?I know it's so much more than just a stereo gone.
Sending you much warm fuzziness.
Posted by octopusprime on December 10, 2003, at 0:58:01
In reply to (((((octo)))))), posted by kara lynne on December 9, 2003, at 23:49:23
kara lynne -
i have a dull headache and i feel restless and cranky. i can expect this feeling to continue for a few days.
it was very strange when the cop was here. he dusted for fingerprints, and i told him that an object that was handled by the thief was also handed by my ex (in the distant past, a package of tax preparation software). then he started asking me questions about my ex. i didn't think it was him, but crazy minds ...
called up the ex. asked him if he was angry at me. if he knew what happened. he said he was home all day and had nothing to worry about. i believed him. don't know why i had to call and apologized for sounding accusatory but he was overall very nice and genial. i told him i was doing well, asked him if he'd seen my jacket, then said bye. damn it all if the ex had to be nice on the phone.
and now i'm shopping online for stereos and new apartments ... with my new lock installed on the patio door already (and extra security bar) ... i will wait 20 days to decide for sure if i'm going to move (the whole no decisions under stress and moving over xmas being bad ideas thing) ... but maybe i would just stay and buy a new stereo, moving is expensive, but then again, bait ... ack!
didn't clean up or bait my apartment. just going to close my blinds, lock the doors, and hope for the best tomorrow
i'm rambly too :p
Posted by sienna on December 10, 2003, at 1:01:19
In reply to Re: breakin - thanks, posted by octopusprime on December 9, 2003, at 22:07:11
y es i wish you could have a nice pad by the beach. i always live in a crime places too. it can be really hard. im sorry this happened to you. man that sucks. i think if you feel like moving then let yourself move because you need to feel safe and comfortable in your house.
take care octo,
sienna
Posted by kara lynne on December 10, 2003, at 1:21:09
In reply to Re: (((((octo)))))), posted by octopusprime on December 10, 2003, at 0:58:01
Hi octo,
I think you're doing great. I also don't think you need to apologize in the least for calling your ex.--you were very tame under the circumstances. I'm so impressed that you're just clipping along and doing what you need to do--something I'm trying to do a little more of.Here I go again, but I hear the theft rate is much higher during a full moon.
continued fuzziness.
Posted by Susan J on December 10, 2003, at 8:48:26
In reply to breakin, posted by octopusprime on December 9, 2003, at 20:30:34
Hey, I'm so sorry.......I'm glad they left the xmas presents, but I remember when people broke into my grandmother's house and took her silver. She just felt so unsafe after that....
I hope things get easier for you. I'll be thinking of ya,
Susan
Posted by Susan J on December 10, 2003, at 8:57:44
In reply to Re: (((((octo)))))), posted by octopusprime on December 10, 2003, at 0:58:01
Hey,
I gotta say I've never heard of baiting your apartment before. ?????
I used to work in the Baltimore City Jail system and am very familiar with criminals. :-) It's probably a neighbor.
I'd probably move if it were me. But there are things you can do to discourage any would-be theives. Can you put a really bright light on your patio near the slider? Trim back bushes or whatever he might hide behind while he busts your locks? I've got a motion-sensitive light on my back deck that's really bright, and a light-sensor front porch light that turns on so I don't have to come home to a dark house. Light and visibility *are* your friends. :-)
Do you have any friends with extra burglar alarm stickers? I think they are a *huge* deterrent. Just cuz you don't have ADT or Brinks or Security Link or whatever, if it *looks* like you do, the guy should go on to the next house.
I also leave a TV on when I'm out. I think thieves are used to the *lights* being switched on or off by timers or whatever, but a TV on might make them think twice. Also keep your shades drawn so they can't figure out if someone's inside or not.
I'm sorry this happened, and I'm glad you are OK. Take care,
Susan
Posted by Eddie Sylvano on December 10, 2003, at 9:11:38
In reply to breakin, posted by octopusprime on December 9, 2003, at 20:30:34
> sitting here waiting for the cops to come
> somebody broke into my apartment through the sliding glass door
-----------Aww. When I saw the post, I immediately thought of the movie...
Posted by octopusprime on December 10, 2003, at 10:56:15
In reply to Re: breakin » octopusprime, posted by Eddie Sylvano on December 10, 2003, at 9:11:38
> Aww. When I saw the post, I immediately thought of the movie...
>
> http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086998/
>lolol
Hopefully I will be spared from the sequel, Breakin 2 (the electric boogaloo)
thanks eddie biggest smile i've had all week!
Posted by Karen_kay on December 10, 2003, at 12:40:57
In reply to breakin, posted by octopusprime on December 9, 2003, at 20:30:34
Ouchie! I'm so sorry! At least that is all the material possessions they took from you. How have you been sleeping lately? I know it is hard when someone breaks into your safe haven, but you have to kinda pull yourself up and keep going. And from what I know about you, I'm sure you will! The most important thing is to not let it interfere with you normal daily living. Chances are that it won't happen again.
Karen
Posted by octopusprime on December 10, 2003, at 21:55:14
In reply to Re: breakin, posted by Karen_kay on December 10, 2003, at 12:40:57
hi karen_kay
i got to sleep late, but once i got to sleep it was ok. (aside from having stupid dreams about the ex, bugger!) tomorrow they are making me wake up early, and the next night i will be out drinking. so it's a few days of sub-optimal sleep for me, but i don't think it will be so poor as to be dysfunctional.
the people at work were very supportive and nice. (my coworker had a breakin the day before mine, we comisserated and told breakin stories, everybody has one here).
however, i have been repeatedly cautioned that very frequently thieves will revisit a place, since they know how to break in. i'm concerned because i want to replace my stereo on monday, and i just can't afford to run around buying stereos all the time!
oddly enough i am more ticked off and inconvenienced than anything. i am not concerned about my personal safety: i am confident that there would be no break-in if i was home, and that i'm not in any danger. this kind of thing is an opportunity crime, which i suspect was done by a local teenager or junkie that would be frightened of my presence and rather left unseen.
i also hate being paranoid. i start to think of people who have no love lost for me. i wonder if people are sadistic enough to track me down and make me angry on purpose. so now i am starting to wonder where my mortal enemies are lurking, and if it is a conspiracy. i should adjust my tin foil hat, this can't be real, it's just petty crime, but still, you never know ...
bah paranoia. hopefully i will be so busy for the next week or two i won't know what hit me, and by then i'm already over it. of course the danger of that is that i forget to move. hmm.
Posted by Karen_kay on December 11, 2003, at 15:37:57
In reply to Re: breakin, posted by octopusprime on December 10, 2003, at 21:55:14
I'm glad you are back to your normal schedule of drinking, just don't forget your pants (unless of course you intend to do just that)!
I think the holiday season usually sees an increase in crimes such as this. And I'm glad that you aren't letting it get you down. Maybe in your next dream you can take your paranoia out on your ex? Wouldn't that be lovely?
Maybe you could do things such as leave your stereo on while you are out or leave a light on? Do you think that might help?
As for your "sanity" the tin foil hat will only get you so far, like in your house. Don't think you can wonder around much outside wearing it. Unless you've done something really bad fairly recently to make someone mad (like called someone out during a line-up??). Doubtful hun. You could also talk to the police to find tips on how to prevent another break in. It's ok to be a little paranoid, considering this happened and all. Find out how to keep it from happening again. And if you start leaving glasses of water laying around your house, give me a call pronto!!!!
Karen
Posted by octopusprime on December 12, 2003, at 20:46:14
In reply to Re: breakin » octopusprime, posted by Karen_kay on December 11, 2003, at 15:37:57
> I'm glad you are back to your normal schedule of drinking, just don't forget your pants (unless of course you intend to do just that)!
pants - good tip, thanks :)
> Maybe you could do things such as leave your stereo on while you are out or leave a light on? Do you think that might help?
well maybe i'd leave my stereo on, if it wasn't freakin stolen! lol. the irony is delicious :)
Posted by Karen_kay on December 14, 2003, at 9:18:20
In reply to Re: breakin, posted by octopusprime on December 12, 2003, at 20:46:14
> > Maybe you could do things such as leave your stereo on while you are out or leave a light on? Do you think that might help?
>
> well maybe i'd leave my stereo on, if it wasn't freakin stolen! lol. the irony is delicious :)<<<<I meant the new one if you chose to buy it hun :) Did you opt to get it?
This is the end of the thread.
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