HOPE IT suits you!
A LIGHT-FINGERED THIEF LIBERATES SOME OF JEREMY’S BELONGINGS
Iwas robbed last week. My car was broken into while I was attending a meeting. It was in a parking building next to a hotel. There were signs saying security cameras were in action. I didn’t question the safety of the spot.
But 40 minutes later, when I sat back in my car, I started to question my memory. I was sure there had been a navy suit lying on the passenger seat just over half an hour ago.
Now there was just a seat. My confusion deepened as I noticed the centre console storage was open. Weird. My first thought was how tidy it looked. This was, of course, because half the stuff I keep in there was gone.
Sadly, too many of us will be familiar with the dawning realisation we have been robbed. As the fact landed, I swore. It didn’t really help.
It took me a while and a couple of double-checks to complete the list of stolen items: a new navy suit, white business shirt, dress shoes, golf shoes, garage remote and one of those portable jump-starters for your car. I’d only just got that. The cheek!
After sitting stunned for a few minutes, I decided it could’ve been worse. Nothing personal or irreplaceable had been taken, they didn’t seem to have damaged the car, and I still had time to go home and get another less cool suit to still make the conference I was about to MC. I rang Megan to share the outrage. We quickly arrived at resignation.
I spent half an hour ringing the police and the car park people. Everyone was civil and helpful, but I think we were all just doing the dance – filling the forms and ticking the boxes but not really expecting anything to come of it.
A day or so later, the insurance company said they could reimburse me, minus the excess but
I’d lose my no-claims bonus. Did I want to proceed? I did the calculation and decided it was worth it.
With the insurance being paid, I worked out all up I’d lost about
$400, plus some time and effort. Not great, but not disastrous.
In hindsight, I have decided the person who stole my stuff probably needed it more. Although I’ve had a moment of resentment because he also took my new pen as well. Dammit! And I’m a little offended he didn’t think my shabby old golf clubs were worth stealing. Snob.
But as I used the robbery as material during the conference I was at, and again for this column, you could argue I’ve actually profited from it. Hard to disagree – it’s been a win-win.
Not only did I get something exciting to talk about, but tell me it doesn’t make you smile a little to think of some dude wandering around all warm and happy in a blue suit, with my fancy pen in his pocket, wearing lime-green golf shoes.