They caught him!

Despite the perceptions some people may have of the Queensland Police, dealing with them over my break in has given me new appreciation for the work they do. Yeah, getting pulled over for running through an orange light just as it turns red sucks, but when you are a victim of crime and not committing one, they really do have your back covered.

After my frantic call to 000 to report my break-in (Note: 000 is not to be used to report break-ins, no matter how completely freaked out and utterly panicked to the point of loosing all capacity to use a phonebook you may be), there were two very friendly and sympathetic sargents at my house within an hour. A crime-scene investigator followed a little while later to dust for prints and look for hair and such. No, she wasn't wearing a cleavage-bearing top and sunglasses inside, but she was very professional and friendly.

So I got a call to my mobile on Good Friday from a constible to tell me that William, a 28 year old heroin addict had confessed to my break-in as well as three others in the area. It was not his first time doing break-ins and he had been caught before and charged under the drug crimes act which meant he had to go through a rehabillitation program rather than serve jail time. Obviously it didn't work too well and the constible told me he will most likely face significant jail time for this one. I will need to give a statement at some point in the next few months and may have to testify in court, something I am all too willing to do. I want to see the face of the man that came into my home while I slept.

As for the goods he stole, they were traded for heroin and I am writing this from my brand-new iBook, with a new digital camera beside me, and a new iPod is on its way. So William, those things you stole have been easily replaced and you will be punished for harming my peace of mind.

The system seems to work.

An open letter to the person(s) who burgled me early Monday morning

You forced open a window and entered my home while I slept. You stole things from me that I had worked hard to be acquire, and things I didn't realise could be stolen. You stole my peace of mind. My confidence in my independence as a person and as a woman. You stole the pleasure I get from sitting on my back porch late at night watching fruitbats fly over. I don't feel safe doing this now. I startle at possums moving the branched outside my windows. I sleep with my valuables stashed around me. I don't sleep. I wake yelling from nightmares where you are standing over me as I sleep and I chase after you and yell 'You!' 'You!'. I don't understand all of how I know feel, but I know you did this when you made my home unsafe.

What gives you the right to effect a person in this way? To change a person's life in this way? To hurt a person in this way? What gives you the right? Because you didn't have the same opportunities I have had? Because you don't have people around you who would make sure you never had to resort to this, no matter how bad things got? Is it because you are just too ignorant and insensitive to understand that what you did was wrong and impacted upon an innocent person? You know, if you had approached me for help, honestly and with good will, chances are I would have helped you in some way willingly and without the need to this violation. I help people. That's how I am. I have to believe that people are fundamentally good and kind and just, otherwise I become depressed. You have given me reason to doubt this belief and to doubt the goodness of people. This is a cruel, cruel thing to do to me.

I have insurance. I have backups of files. The physical things you stole will be sold to allow you to feed your habit/ego/children and will be easily replaced. The most valuable thing you stole from me doesn't have street value and will take years to replace.

Understand that the world is balanced. When you give yourself in kindness, at some point you will receive kindness in return. When you take with such malice, you will receive in kind. Understand this, and understand the effect your actions have.