Wednesday 7 January 2015

Squelch!

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This is the plaque on the wall just inside our front door. Sadly, on our return from holiday yesterday, there was no echo of peace- just “Squelch!” The house had been burgled in our absence - and the burglars had blocked the kitchen sink and left both the taps fully on.

Downstairs, carpets in the hall and Bob’s study were utterly sodden. Boxes and tins had been opened and their contents deposited everywhere in the water. The back door had been jemmied open [and there had been attempts to open the conservatory door too]

Upstairs was dry – but in total chaos. The police were rapidly on the scene, after we had called from our neighbour’s phone. As nothing large had gone [TV, Bob’s audio gear, computers etc untouched] they suspected the thieves were merely looking for cash, and small items to put in their pockets, and sell on quickly. They had completely emptied my tiny jewellery box, and taken all the contents.

P1000484Nothing of great monetary value, but a number of small family items with sentimental value [all insured though] However they had emptied every drawer of its contents, clearly hoping that something more valuable was hidden inside.

In the kitchen, the contents of the tin of cookie cutters were floating in the water. Upstairs, all the haberdashery I had so neatly packed for moving was strewn all over the floor. The policeman said that as these tins all rattled, they probably expected jewels of coins inside – not a few hundred buttons, and Christmas jingle bells!

burgled jan 2015

That Jackson Pollock installation, bottom right was a new box of 250 IKEA plastic drinking straws! The cash box [bottom left] was empty to start with. My neighbour wondered why they didn’t stop when they realised that there clearly wasn’t going to be anything else to steal. The box labelled ‘hats’ was full of …hats, and the tin labelled ‘interfacing’ contained interfacing. Perhaps they couldn’t read! They’d opened my filing drawers – and tipped out all my WWDP stuff, and generally made a mess. The water had poured off the worktop into the drawer of spices and seeped into the jars and packets – I shall have to claim on the insurance for them [cinnamon sticks don’t grow on trees, you know – oh, hang on, maybe they do!]

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But outside on the drive, we found this – my Brigade Queen’s Award. Very precious, awarded to me in 1971. I was the youngest person in the world ever to get this, a few days after my 16th birthday – and I will always hold that record, because after that they changed the rules and 18 is the minimum age now.

The burglars must have dropped it as they made their getaway.

This wasn’t the way we expected our fantastic holiday to end, and the hassle of insurance, changing car locks, replacing damaged doors and carpets is all a bit much alongside the packing and moving. But it is only stuff after all. We still have our faith and our family and our friends, and so many, many things to be thankful for.

The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will garrison our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

35 comments:

  1. Oh Angela, I am so sorry to read this. What a horrible thing to happen. Sending you love and positive thoughts Xx

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  2. Oh no Ang, how utterly despicable! X

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  3. Sorry to hear this, what a horrible thing.

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  4. I've read your posts from across the pond for a long time now but have never commented.

    I feel compelled to appear from the shadows after this terrible incident. I am so sorry that someone did this to your peaceful home.

    Be patient with yourself. Although these are just material goods as you recognize, it's still an invasion of your privacy and property. It may take time to fully shake this off.

    May God bless you and hold you in his care. May he fill you with all that you need.

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    1. Thank you so much for these words Susan, and for your support x

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    2. I too must appear from the shadows. I'm so sorry this has happened to you. The taps is so upsetting, I can understand the rummaging but not the taps. Horrible inside and out no doubt. I wish you peace and happiness for the future months and I was so glad you found your medal on the drive. Best wishes from Buckinghamshire. Xxx

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  5. What a wonderful positive attitude...and maybe it makes it easier to contemplate starting again in a new home. The burglary one can understand...but what state are their minds in to make them turn on the taps? Sending you love too...

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  6. Oh, how horrible for you, Angela. Sending love and healing thoughts to you both. xx

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  7. How dreadful. What an awful thing for someone to do, hope they catch the culprits soon. Big hugs, Vee xx

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  8. How awful, so sorry to hear this terrible thing happened to you. I'm glad that you found at least one of your special items.

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  9. What a horrible thing for you to come home to after your lovely time away with family and friends. I'm so glad that you found your precious award; a glimmer of light in the gloom.

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  10. What a really horrible thing to come home to. It is probably a good thing you are moving as I'm told it takes a while to get over a violation of all your personal stuff. Let's hope the police find out who did it.
    Sending love and positive thoughts to you from Suffolk

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  11. Oh Ang. I'm so glad the GB jewel escaped x

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  12. So sorry that this happened! What a terrible way to end the holidays. I'm glad you found your award on the drive--it's like a tiny victory they didn't get away with that.

    xofrances

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  13. I am so sorry to hear your devastating news. One day, a few years ago, I turned up at work and the office was like this. Office door smashed to bits, every drawer emptied, everything destroyed. The burglars had also urinated on the floor, on the stairs etc. Nothing large or valuable, taken, so the police thought they were after cash. They only made off with the petty cash (about £20) but left an enormous amount of damage behind.

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  14. What a horrid thing to find on your return. As others have said, I can't imagine what compels people to do something like turning on the taps to cause wanton damage. Burglary I can (just) understand but causing the damage too..?! Maybe they were frustrated not to find more things to steal.
    I truly admire your attitude however, and I pray that God will hold you in the palm of his hand, helping to heal you from the hurt and distress this caused.

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  15. Terrible news, and an awful homecoming for you. So sorry to read this - sending virtual hugs and wishing I was closer to come and help you with the mess. So pleased that your brigade award survived. Much love xxx

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  16. Absolutely dreadful!
    Yes it's only stuff..and you and Bob weren't physically harmed..but it's still a despicable act of mindless theft and vandalism. Take care of yourselves.
    Jane x

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  17. Susan Z is right, there is a delayed shock that goes with it all. It's the personal invasion that hurts so much. So glad you weren't attacked, a good thing you were away.

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  18. That is so awful. Thinking of you. Donnax

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  19. Oh my goodness - hugs coming your way from me.
    xx

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  20. There's no justice in the world when bad things happen to very good people. I hope those responsible for this appalling crime are brought to book. Please try and enlist some help with the carnage they left behind.

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    1. All day, friends have been turning up to help- it has been truly amazing - the mess is gradually getting sorted.

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  21. This is the first time I have read your blog and I am so sorry you are going through this. It seems so mindless as they didn't steal anything worthwhile just trashed everything.

    We had a similar thing happen in our church in June 2013. Two young boys about 12 years old had broken in and just trashed everything. It is heartbreaking and even now when my husband opens the church he is still wondering how it will be. The insurance claim was a nightmare as well. They sent a company in to clear up which happened very quickly and then it all just went pear shaped. In the end we asked for a cash settlement and we got one but we had to fight every step of the way and it just makes everything more heartbreaking. Hope your insurance company is better than ours was. The police did get the two boys who did it and they got a caution.

    Pray that you will be able to get over this eventually.

    Pat

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    1. Thank you for your prayer support, Pat. We are trusting that the Baptist Insurance Company sort things out properly - they have always been good in the past!

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  22. Just caught up Angela, so horrid for you - thinking of you xxx

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  23. Very sorry to read about this Angela x

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  24. Angela, just got on line after a busy few days. So sorry that this has happened to you - the worst kind of burglary where they make an unnecessary mess and spoiling the end of a lovely holiday. Thinking of you. Hugs

    Pattypan

    x

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  25. I am so sorry to read of this senseless crime against you but I can't help thinking that God had given you his promise in Joshua 1:9 even as this was happening. He is with you and will give you the strength and courage you need for this too. Do not be discouraged!

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  26. Just caught up. It must have been awful to come home to see that. Not nice at all. Hope you are feeling ok.
    Carolx

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  27. oh my gosh. I am so very sorry. It's a terrible thing to have one's privacy and home invaded; I hope they catch the cretins. Like the Good Book says...the wicked flourish because justice is slow in coming. Angela, I am so very sorry.

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  28. My goodness, that's terrible. Sending my best wishes.

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  29. Hi Angela,
    I'm just catching up with your blog and am shocked by the destruction. I can understand that the hunt for valuables would cause a mess, but I can't understand the deliberate turning on of the taps.
    You must be exhausted, both physically and emotionally, but you have your faith to sustain you. Good luck with the clear up and the packing.

    Bon courage.

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  30. I'm also just catching up and horrifies to read about your burglary.
    What a thoroughly nasty thing to do, as if robbing you and making a mess wasn't bad enough, to deliberately flood the house is just horrible.
    What sad and worthless lives these people must lead, if on drawing their last breaths their greatest achievement was to have robbed people and vandalised their homes.

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