Robbed.

[eurydicebound]

We've been robbed, or rather my sons have. I came home on Friday night to find my door locked, but some things oddly placed. This didn't throw me as I'd received a call from my ex earlier that evening saying he was going to stop by and pick up extra clothes for Will. Some CDs were out, some candy was on the dishwasher... none of it concerned me.

Then, today, when I bring the kids home from my ex's, the first thing they ask when they come in the door is "where's the gamecube?" I had assumed David had borrowed it, but that was evidently not the case. We've been cleaning and taking inventory since then.

Missing items:
A signed soccer ball from Manchester University's kid's soccer camp.
Will's skateboard.
The Gamecube and a couple of controllers.
A good portion of the games for said Gamecube.
Looney Tunes Golden Collection DVD, though the dust cover is still here.

Still here:
All my electronics, all my jewelry, the kids' coin savings book, their TV... really anything else of value. Will's new scooter is still here, at least.

It looks like a neighborhood kid came over and ripped us off, as the missing items are all "kid" items, hit and miss in what they took, and of negligible value overall. This means no neighborhood kids in the house anymore. I don't actually think it was one of the boys' friends, but at least a couple of the friends have older siblings and acquaintances that have come over with them at least once. Whoever it is, Rosie knew them and they knew her, so they wandered around in the house at their leisure.

I can't afford to replace the items that were taken, at least not right now. My kids are sad, and I'm sad and mad and everything else too. It's just not fair.

Comments

[mikigarrison.livejournal.com]

That really truly sucks that anyone would do that to your kids.

I know the last time I was broken into it was really obvious it was kids -- all that was taken was video games, candy, and beer, but the stuff worth money was still there.

[iamnikchick.livejournal.com]

Oh Michelle, that's awful. Stealing from kids is the WORST. Kids are already so vulnerable and unimpowered. Taking their things is such crap.

[mysticalforest.livejournal.com]

Sucks!

If it was a neighborhood kid who took that stuff, methinks that now's a good time to label kid-related stuff with one of those fancy Sharpies.

And if it was a neighborhood kid, I should think it wouldn't be horrifically difficult to find out who it was—they might already be known by your kids or you...

[jeff-preston.livejournal.com]

I am SO sorry. When we got robbed, the worst part was the feeling of violation. Do you have insurance?

[anaka.livejournal.com]

No. I'd gotten a quote for renter's insurance, but my budget is tight enough that I couldn't afford the extra premiums. Guess I should have found a way to squeeze it in.

[anaka.livejournal.com]

You're probably right. I think speaking Spanish would help find the suspects a bit more.... Sigh.

[mysticalforest.livejournal.com]

Ha—joke's on them! All your stuff is in English! ;)

[jongwk.livejournal.com]

It definitely looks like a kid did it. Have you tried asking around with other parents?

[shellyinseattle.livejournal.com]

Even though the police won't really do anything with a theft of this size, I think you should still report it in case there's been a rash of thefts.

Also, I liked the suggestion someone made of talking to the other parents and getting the neighborhood grapevine involved in this.

Sorry it happened at all.

[exilesletter.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry. :(

Definitely, definitely make a report. Call the non-emergency police number NOW. If your kids see someone with their stuff sometime down the road, if you have a police report on record you can call for assistance getting it back.

[jesshartley.livejournal.com]

Two ideas
One - contact local pawn shops with a list of games missing and description of your cube. Sometimes kids are dumb and take it all to a pawn shop to get cash, and if so, the shop which has been informed of the theft would be likely to call the cops on them if it all showed up together.

Two - Make signs and post them in the neighborhood. If it was a kid/teen and they just showed up with a game cube and a bunch of games, their parents are likely suspicious and signs saying "MISSING: Game Cube, 14 games, signed socer ball, skateboard, Looney Tunes DVDS" would catch their attention.

[wilthoughts.livejournal.com]

I would think a sign might mark your house as a target.

[adamjury.livejournal.com]

Real simple: have your kids ask to go over to every single neighbors-with-kids house. Note which ones make up excuses or refuse for odd reasons. :)

[knowmad.livejournal.com]

Maybe I missed this tidbit in your post, but, if the door was locked, how did this person get in?

Does anyone else have a key? Or did you find a window broken or anything like that?

Anyhow, I echo the chorus of "that sucks!"

[anaka.livejournal.com]

I don't know how the person got in. The back door was locked, and apparently the person came after the ex had left. I had windows open as I have no air conditioning, but all the screens were in place and none of the windows were broken. I have two windows without screens, both in the boys room, but one requires getting past a monster neglected blackberry bush and is very high off the ground. The other is a little less high off the ground, but hasn't been opened yet this year. Both are out of the question for kids the size of my sons, at least without help.

The only people with keys are my ex and my landlord, along with myself.

[metallian.livejournal.com]

Fuck! :(

Could you put up signs about the missing items? They're pretty distinctive items, I imagine some parents might notice, be appalled, and return them with an apology.

[anidada.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry this happened to you and the boys, hon, and I hope you can find out who's responsible and get something done about it. *hugs you tight*

[polyhex.livejournal.com]

How completely ROTTEN. :( So sorry for you and your kids.

[knowmad.livejournal.com]

That just seems weird. Don't suppose the police offered any opinion about how they got it? They investigate many robberies, of course, and might know what to look for.

[anaka.livejournal.com]

I have realized I cannot remember whether or not the backdoor was locked. As it was trash day the night before, it's conceivable it was unlocked. Otherwise, the windows were open, I'm on the ground floor, and all the screens can be lifted out and replaced from the outside with no muss or fuss. There's just no real way to tell, and not enough taken of value to be worth collecting a great deal of evidence.