Have You Ever Had a Break In or Been Robbed? I Have.

This is one of the two cameos that were stolen.
©2010 PK Hawk

Yes, I have had my home broken into. In 2005, I had to move away from my home for health reasons. I left most of my belongings there, as I only planned to be gone for a few months, until I was better. However, when my electric bill suddenly took an out of the ordinary jump, I decided I needed to take a look to see if something may not be working properly. 


When I got there, I noticed that someone had apparently broken in, entering through a rear bedroom window which was not visible from the front or side of the property. Then, I noticed that my computer tower light was also on. I had shut off the monitor, as well as the hard drive, but now the light on the tower was on. I began looking around inside and out, and found that my video recorder was gone, as well as some coins I had collected. There were also many things missing from my large upright jewelry case (the type that stands on the floor), as well as many other items. Then, I checked my four car garage. Several razor type scooters were also missing, in addition to several other items. In all, the missing items were valued at approximately two thousand dollars. I was also missing two authentic cameo brooches that had garnets, and pearls on them. They were valued at about $600.00. 

Since I was not living in my home, I really had no idea exactly when it had been robbed, but all the signs pointed to teenagers. I telephoned two neighbors, whose property was adjoining mine, so see if they had noticed anyone lurking around the place. From the change in my electric bill, it had to be at least a month or so.


The neighbor who lived on the side of my home, had not noticed anything out of the ordinary, and he was pretty good at watching things when I was not home. However, when I called the neighbor who lived behind me, at first he said he had not noticed anyone. Then, he asked me about some of the missing items. I mentioned my metal detector, as well as my video camera, and he said that their had been a local boy who was visiting his son, who had a metal detector messing around in their yard about a month or so before. He thought it was a bit unusual, but had not inquired of the boy why he had a metal detector with him. 


He said he would talk to the son, and let his wife know what had happened. Later that afternoon, his wife called me to see if she might be able to help. When she found that her son may also be involved, she told him that if had any information about my missing things, he had better cough up whatever he knew, because if he knew anything and didn't help me get my things back, she would make sure he went to jail along with whoever else was involved. 


My neighbor's son was very good at helping me get my things back, and he was so very apologetic. He took me to the home of the primary perpetrator, as well as a couple other boys who had some of my items. The primary perpetrator had most of the items, including the metal detector, as well as the video camera, as well as the coins. He had given a few lesser valued items to the other children to keep them quite. I managed to get written confessions from most of the children. Of course the coins were severely devalued, as the kid had broken open the plastic display cases which had contained the coins. He claimed he did not know anything about the video camera though. His parents were the only ones who were not nearly as cooperative as all the others whose offspring were involved in ransacking my home.


Later, my son-in-law discovered the video camera hidden inside some rolled up carpeting that was elsewhere on the property. 


The local Deputy Sheriff was astonished that I was able to get most of my things back, and I gave her the confessions in case any of the youngsters involved ever got into trouble again.