(1039) Break in

My friend Mollie migrated to a town outside of Melbourne, Australia. Before she bought a house she rented an apartment while orientating the family to the new environment. Because of the temporary nature of that rental, she did not think of opening a safe deposit box in any bank. The assumption that it was a peaceful countryside lulled her and her husband to think they were quite safe. Their apartment was broken into and her entire collection of jewels were gone. For weeks she was in a daze. One day the policeman in town stopped her on her way to pick up her son. She had unknowingly ran two red lights. He kindly counselled her to seek help with the psychologist in the local hospital. She went home with her son and cried for hours. It was not the monetary value that made her cry. It was all the keepsakes and heirlooms that she lost which cut into her heart. She happened to be a Hokkien, Hokkien brides tend to receive more golden items during their weddings than other Han Chinese.

My husband's varsity housemate also migrated to Melbourne. When they least expected it , their house was broken into. Someone must have been watching their comings and goings, in less than one hour of their weekly grocery shopping, it was enough for their belongings to be thrown around like a hurricane has swept through the small house. Actually very little cash was taken. They felt very violated as all their personal items like clothing and photos were rifled and scattered everywhere. It was a bad experience which left a nasty taste in the mouth. It was little wonder that they bought another house quite far from the rented house and outfitted it with alarms and other security measure.

Of course crime is present everywhere. Before my first child was born, my husband and I rented a room from my former school mate and her husband. After we moved to our own place, her place was broken into. Her downstairs bathroom window was not grilled with metal bars. The burglar must have been a thin drug addict. She lost a few items of convincing looking costume jewels and a few bottles of duty free hard liquor.

An old neighbour of mine in Silver City lost everything in her safe box in the study. Her son returned after midnight half drunk. The electronic gate and wooden main door were left open. For some unexplained reason, that night her safe was not locked. Although she thought it was the carelessness of her son and it was an outsider who came in, the other members of her family thought it was her maid.

After the initial shock of discovering the crime, the next thought often would be gratefulness that no one is hurt. Money one can earn again with hard work and time, human lives and well being are priceless.