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Yesterday, my landlord called me at around 2:30pm. It was not good news. The photo speaks for itself.
I am actually really quite lucky. They got:
My laptop
~$20 in loose change
4 Kilkenny Beers
1/2 dozen homemade brownies (and tupperware container).
Coca-Cola tin filled with hair clips and elastic bands
1/2 dozen cds with software/movies
What did they leave?
My bike
External hard-drive
New coffee maker (fancy cuisinart model)
DVD/TV
Stereo speakers (with subwoofer)
Luckily, I had my nano and my camera with me at school. They were also some pretty tidy crooks. They left all my kitchen cupboards open (hungry hey?) but didn't trash anything. They carefully unplugged the laptop, leaving the mouse and speakers but taking the AC adapter.
They also got into my neighbour's apartment (using the same method). He got the worst of it, losing his computer, camera, cd collection and the crooks made lunch in his kitchen.
It was a huge relief to see that they had left my external hard-drive. I keep a fairly regular backup on it so I have only lost the last couple of months or so of photos and e-mails. I am going to buy another one today as the first is already full and try to keep a full backup in two physical locations (I will leave one in my office at work). My biggest data loss is approximately 1/2 of my music collection. A good chunk of this was obtained here in Montreal through friends/roomates. It is really the only irreplaceable thing that I have lost. I did not have enough space to back it all up (I won't make that mistake again).
I keep wondering how to prevent them from coming back now that they've scoped my place out. My landlord is going to reinforce the door frame and I will have a brand new door soon. I have been trying to come up with some sort of security device but so far my best idea is a guilotine or swinging knife type of device. I figure it could go off every time the door is opened, but I would be ready to dodge it.
Posted by Alistair Howard at November 24, 2005 09:49 AM
Well this sucks...
Posted by: Dave at November 24, 2005 01:33 PM
Personally, I'd go for a giant paint can that swings towards people as they enter and then booby trap the whole place (ala Home Alone). Seriously though, I'm so sorry to hear about this. Nobody saw/hear anything? It must've made a fair bit of noise to do that to a door!
Posted by: Kris at November 24, 2005 02:20 PM
I say leave a beer, a plate of brownies and a Dell brochure from the newpaper outside your door.
Posted by: shawn at November 24, 2005 04:17 PM
First off, Shawn you are comment number 200 on nonzero.ca. I'll get you a prize sometime.
Kris: I am also pretty suprised that no one heard either of the doors being kicked in. My landlord lives in the building. Also, my apartment is on the second floor and there is quite a bit of traffic that comes by. But then again, who goes looking when they hear weird noises in their apartment buildings? Someone also has got to let or buzz you into the building (and there is only a dozen or so apts in the building so we recognize each other).
Dave: it looks like insurance should cover this. Lesson learnt this year in Montreal? Get renter's insurance. I've had one apartment try to burn down and one door get kicked in. The cost of insurance is definitely worth it.
Posted by: Alistair at November 24, 2005 04:56 PM
Not the hair clips and elastic bands! Gasp! (What were they thinking, that they were special James Bond hair clips with built-in "lasers" and therefore ideal for their evil plans?
Sorry to hear about the unfortunate invasion. I have an idea for security -- get Lisa to move back. She'd fight 'em off good.
Posted by: Sandra at November 24, 2005 10:19 PM
I read your Currently notes before seeing this post and thought: didn't you just buy a laptop? Man, I've never been broken into. I am impressed you already had renters insurance. I would be very sad about loosing the brownies.
Posted by: Jeff Werner at November 24, 2005 11:23 PM
Dude, that sucks.
I've heard of thieves making themselves a snack while in the burglarees house before....what a total screw you. It's like saying "Not only do I have the nerve to break into your home, I'm also so sure that I'm not going to get caught I'll have a sandwich while I'm here". I'm so glad I live in a community where you don't even have to lock your door.
Posted by: Dan at November 24, 2005 11:38 PM