Beloved and I have an ongoing debate. I believe the best in people, and for the most part I like people. I think, on the whole, people are good. Beloved likes few people, and mistrusts the population as a whole. Beloved locks doors and windows obsessively; I am cavalier about such things, locking car doors when I remember to do so and when it is convenient.
My faith in humanity has been tested this week. First, someone stole my iPod out of the car. While I’m cavalier about locking doors, I am pretty careful about not leaving valuables in it, especially in plain sight. The iPod was half-hidden under the cup holder, and someone must have been rifling through the van to find it. It took me about three days to decide that it was actually stolen and not misplaced by me, but after a thorough search of the usual places and a clear memory of bringing it out to the car with no corresponding memory of bringing it back in, I resigned to the fact that someone had in fact snatched it some time during a given 24 hour period.
As if that weren’t insult enough, less than a week later I realized the transmitter I plug into the lighter to broadcast the iPod through the car radio had also been stolen. Not at the same time, mind, because it was looking at the empty transmitter that made me realize the iPod was missing in the first place.
Now, I can see someone stealing an iPod. It’s $150 worth of electronics, easy to steal and probably easy to resell or just use. But stealing a $10 transmitter? That’s just insulting, and somehow the latter bothers me more than the former.
And yes, I know, I should have been more compulsive about locking the doors and learned my lesson with the iPod. But when I’m hauling 25 lbs of Lucas and his baby carrier and the backpack and my purse and gods know what else in and out of the van, it’s not always at the forefront of my mind to lock the doors, especially in the never-ending rain we’ve been having lately.
Sigh. Could have been a much more expensive lesson, true, but I prefer to imagine I live in a world where I can leave my doors mostly unlocked. Now I lock the doors regularly, and am just a little bit sad every time I juggle the baby and the bag and whatever else I’m holding, trying to find the switch to unlock the doors.
I’m cavalier about locking car doors as well. We don’t have A/C in our vehicle and in summer I don’t like asking my kid to get into a 45 degree car. So far so good vis a vis thievery but as you know, not locking my office door in Feb resulted in a stolen wallet.
My husband, like yours, is far less trusting than I am.
I lean more towards trusting people and not being too paranoid. Mark is definitely more like Beloved though. I guess we should try a happy medium.
I’m always shocked when anything gets stolen.
that totally sucks. i’m not so much cavalier as forgetful, so i just make sure there is little of value left in the car when i walk away from it.
I let the car get pretty grubby, and I leave Trini Lopez cassette tapes in plain on the front seat so that not only do people know that we have no valuables, but we also have questionable taste. I depend on the smell of spilled, sour milk to repel them should they actually venture into the car. I can guarantee no criminal would leave my car without getting covered in Basset Hound hair. Once, two years ago, when someone did rifle through the stuff in the car because I’d left the door open, they actually left a few quarters and a television remote control, so we came out ahead. So, just a few suggestions there.
That sucks! My brother had his ipod and transmitter stolen out of my moms car on Christmas Eve no less. They were parked in front of my house. I was so pissed.
Very strange things have been happening lately. My dad’s car was STOLEN on the weekend – doors LOCKED and all!
In BROAD daylight.
In a DOCTOR’S parking lot.
Next to a busy HOSPITAL.
Did i mention it was in broad daylight???
Also, this was not some desirable car – a 12 year old buick with 300+ kms.
I guess sometimes stealing is more for the thrill than for the object…
I am like you Dani… I am pretty trustworthy of people… although I do lock my doors in ‘the city’, but at home, I feel as though that is why we live a small town, so we can leave them unlocked!! PC on the other hand is way more anal about locking the doors even in our small town.
If its any consolation, the good transmitters are available at Winner’s this week for a decent price…. but what good would they be without the ipod to go with it!
You could also consider making an insurance claim, and report that say…your very expensive new laptop, digital camera, and louis vitton bag were also taken with the ipod – and you in your new mommy state can’t remember if the doors were or were not locked!!!
Just a thought!!!
P.S. I love Marla’s comment – too funny!
That totally sucks. I tend to be more forgetful than cavalier. Unfortunately in our neighborhood leaving you car doors open is an invitation. We have had CDs stolen and all the change in the car stolen regularly. Sacrifices of living in the city I guess. Still feeling it for you.
Oh that sucks! Our car got broken into last week, but all they took was our ownership and insurance papers. Why the heck would anyone steal those??? They left a Bud Light lighter and a strange tool that I figure they used to get in, so I guess we’re ahead like Marla.
Reading this makes ME feel a little jaded!!!!
….and I even lock my doors….always have a key-fob or two on my person or with in a foot or so…..never had a break-in….don’t even own an ipod to leave in the car….and STILL feel humbled by this post!!!
Hint: try unlocking the van from your doorway before picking up your armload…and locking again from said doorway when you’ve dumped your arm load….may save one or two insane key struggles….
Oh goodness, I am so sorry to hear about this. I agree that it is sad, and results in making us all a little more jaded. Add to this the local news yesterday about a teen who was sexually assaulted in Trend-Arlington Park in the MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON, and little ol’ Ottawa seems a lot bigger than it used to, and I don’t mean that in a good way.
I have to admit to being a compulsive “locker” of house, cars, etc. Theresa’s tip is good and one that I use…I always lock the car after I dump my load of kids/purse/shopping/etc in the foyer. Takes a second and quickly becomes part of the routine.
I think the real lesson here is that you, Danigirl, are not meant to be the owner of an ipod. The trials! The tribulations!! Just sing instead 🙂
I’m with you on the whole “who’s actually walking around stealing things from suburban driveways? The dogwalkers? The nice lady with her son on a trike?” As it turns out, there are plenty of punks roaming about. I’d LOVE to hear a story of someone catching one in the act and scaring the bejesus out of him.. (or her).
Hmm: my captcha = savage opinions …
*laughing*
I love the fact that I put something out there, and you guys (looks pointedly at Marla) turn it into something so hilarious. Hmmm, the Focus is pretty darn grubby, and nobody has stolen anything out of IT in the four years we’ve had it. Point taken!
And Trixie, I KNOW!! Seriously, the Apple Gods must hate me — or love me, since I spend half my salary replacing iPods that come to nefarious ends. I actually read the fine print of my extended warranty to see if random acts of thievery were covered.
(haha, captcha is “plan blocked” — foiled again!)
There was a story here in England just recently where a thief stole a woman’s car with her baby still in his seat in the back.
Could you imagine that!
There is nothing wrong with being trusting of human nature (because usually you will be repaid handsomly), just be trusting and more careful!
You laugh. I have witnesses as to the state of my car.
It’s the 10$ transmitter that would have pissed me off too.