My Journey to Eliminate Debt

It’s 4am here and it’s been a long night!

Yesterday I arrived home mid afternoon after a few days visiting Dad. As I pulled up I saw DH walking up and down the balcony talking on the phone. I could just tell something had happened. Of course my first thoughts went to DS and as I stepped out of the car he called out to tell me that the house had been broken into -he was on the phone to the police.

I immediately asked about our cat, as all the doors to the house were open – she’s s timid little inside cat, afraid of the big wide world outside. She was gone.

It’s hard to put into words how it feels to walk into what has been your ‘safe place’ for almost 25 years and see that strangers  have gone through your things, tipped them out, walked through your bedroom, violently broken in…

They had tried to kick in the doors. Then they had used BIG tools to break in through the security door. (I may be paranoid but I am wary of putting the exact details). The house stank of alcohol.

We are pretty sure that DH arrived home (just a few minutes before me) and interrupted them. They were going through our drawers, tipping things out as they went. Some jewelery is taken.

Our wedding and engagement rings and other gemstone jewelery  Much of it has sentimental value – gifts from DH, my mums jewelry – irreplaceable to me.

They didn’t take DD’s jewelry – they went through her cupboards and tipped things out. It looks like they  were interrupted before they got to the other side of the room where she keeps it.

They have taken electronics items, including a new laptop that DD bought just a few weeks ago in preparation for her trip overseas.

About $200 in coins we were saving to bank.

There is more but I don’t want to be too specific.It’s a fair bit, but it could have been much worse. I think we;d have found about $10,000 worth of stuff stolen so far. I expect there will be more when I can concentrate properly to go through things.

Our first concern was for our poor little cat. She totally an inside cat, terrified of the outside when she does go out on the lead. Spoiled, sheltered and thoroughly loved. I am more angry about how terrified she would have been than anything else. I can’t imagine how frightening it must have been to be inside hearing them smashing the door in and then suddenly to have them in ‘her’ room (she sleeps on DD’s bed during the day). What scared me is that the large tools they used to break, they carried into the house with them. Why bring them inside if not to intimidate or threaten – the police have them now but we know there are no fingerprints -they wore gloves.

Thank heavens that no one was in the house to be confronted by them! I am scared that they might come back for the bigger items.

DD and  I went off straight away to search for the cat and DH waited for the police to arrive. I knocked on doors, walked through the park and a block in either direction. Went out three times, once in the dark with a flashlight and some food but nothing. I just felt sick.

The police were great when they came. Really  helpful, reassuring. A house a few blocks from here had the exact same type of break in just a few days ago. We don’t expect to get stuff back.

We rang the insurance hotline. They were great. Told us to get whatever work we need done to secure the house asap.We have to call them back today.

After the police left  I cleaned up the bedroom. Some things are set aside for fingerprinting. I just had to strip the bed and put clean sheets on. The thought of strangers in our bedroom….. tipping out our stuff… they went through the clothes and stole some….. I just cannot even put into words…

DD and DH spent a long time changing passwords and access codes to their equipment and accounts.

I didn’t think we’d sleep to be honest,  but after one more search in the dark for the cat, we left some food out and went to bed, DH has screwed steel plates to the doors. Stuff the electric bill- we had lights on everywhere LOL!   A few prayers for the cats safe return and I fell sleep, exhausted after the long drive, the visit with Dad and the burglary.

I woke up at 3am and came straight out and turned on the back light. There was our cat sitting at the back door.   Never so glad to see her in my life! She’s family and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her like that.

Of course I woke up DD and DH to tell them she had come back. She is safely tucked up in bed now with DD. Tears of relief all round!

I guess there will be more to come, insurance assessors, police reports, door replacement etc.  but I’m going make a cuppa now and sit here by my window and watch the sunrise  – thankful that we are all safe and accounted for. Thankful that we were not home when these scumbags decided to invade the peace of our home.