I had the misfortune to be burglarised recently. Maybe we had become complacent, living in a middle class area and with the learned experience of no such events in many, many years.
I had traded convenience for security and hence the miscreant took his opportunity. Entering the garden via an unlocked gate and smashing a double glazed french door which had the key inside the lock.
It appeared to be a very fast smash and grab, as many items of value were left behind, but they managed to locate an expensive UHD TV, only a few months old, an Apple iMac of an earlier vintage, jewellery, watches, perfumes, cash etc. but other desirables left.
Nonetheless the experience was unsettling and the inconvenience though not major, was annoying.
Enter the insurance company and the loss adjuster. I have never encountered this profession whose role is to save the insurers as much as possible. However this was a relatively painless and quite quick experience. The process of claim was speedy but providing details demonstrated how complacent we were.
The TV was OK, being recent I had proof of purchase, the model was new so still in production, but the price had dropped around £500 since I had bought it but I got the same model replaced. The iMac was older and had been replaced by new models, the insurance covers new for old but the loss adjuster would not allow me to claim for the latest iMac 5G retina, rather the price of a lower spec model. In all fairness that would have been more modern, faster etc. I took the money and decided to upgrade to the latest adding my own money. Thus the burglary cost me more money ! but providing this one is not stolen or breakdowns, I am future proofed for a few years.
Other stuff was more difficult, ,,,,,,,,,,,,,jewellery and watches, ………..we did not have receipts nor photos (tip here snap all your stuff when you buy it) and stuff dating back to 1970s was pretty much impossible to arrive at a relevant replacement value. The loss adjuster engaged a specialist jewellery advisor apparently, we never met him, and it was that value we accepted. I guess we might have argued but …………..
Anyway, a figure was agreed and paid, in cash, check your insurance, some insist on replacing stuff themselves, but I had cash in the bank.
Now the fun starts, scouring the internet, but restricted to iPad as computer gone. Seeking deals and offers, not forgetting cashback sites, I expect a few pounds but you need to balance that with timescales and availability. The computer I wanted asap and the TV whilst I had others, which were not stolen, the big hole in the lounge was a constant reminder.
iMacs are cheaper from BHS direct than Apple, don’t buy Apple RAM try Crucial a third of the price, no Samsung soundbars available in UK, but Germany, via Amazon Marketplace delivered in a few days, TV from Doncaster, using a google search, £250 less than Currys. Amazon for cables etc, Ebay for other bits and some of the money repurposed to items now wanted.
Frustrations regarding delivery and delays and changes at the last minute but overall painless.
One left over item, the thief took a small drawer from the bedroom cabinet, it had the watches in, and left us with a gap, now need to find someone to build a replacement or replace the chest unit…….to be debated further.
The police response was encouraging though not successful, I called the incident in, PC here within 2 hours, CSI the next day, specialist CID team a few days later. We even got an item in the local Neighbourhood/police watch email. Alas no miscreant located, there was a general description from a neighbour but no car reg. A few weeks later my case was put on the back burner.
The concern was data on the iMac, but we travel hopefully here, Apple do a scheme whereby you can locate all your apple devices, phones, iPads etc and the IMac on line giving a GPS position. It also allows you to send a message to the miscreants, I settled with “try and sell this now you bastards” and then added the functions, to lock and then erase everything, I am waiting for someone to connect it to the internet, maybe on Christmas Day when the thief or whoever he sold onto, sets it up ………….. I would really like to spoil their day.
The experience also prompted a security review, lock doors even when in, same for gates, take keys out of locks, I now have them in a safe when everyone is out or at night. I am still considering alarm or CCTV, maybe Santa will assist !
If there is any moral or lesson to this tale is that it could have been very much worse, no one was home and no one was injured, insurance proved its worth, though wait for next years quotes. Being retired I had the time to search for deals, wait in for deliveries etc, working people might find the time a burden.
Nevertheless it reinforces the concern that you may be a victim of crime and that there are plenty of dishonest snd uncaring thieves out there. I was aware of this from my times on the Magistrates’ bench. Perhaps its the human condition, the survival of the fittest, the strong preying on the weak, the have nots wanting to be haves, the loss of community and respect for others.
Its nothing new, people have always coveted what they see others have, people are by nature selfish, what prevents crime is lack of opportunity, not a moral code, though some have that, they are unlikely to be the ones smashing your windows.
The pursuit of goods and new and shiner tech, seems to be a feature, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, such sales before Christmas are newish phenomenon So ‘free’ or very cheap stolen goods are alternatives for people who have the same desires and wants as those who can afford them, but lack legitimate means to acquire what they believe is their absolute right ………………..the poor are always with us ……………the criminals will always exist, …………..but be warned, my new improved 5000v security cordon, the vicious guards dogs, the razor wire and land mines are being installed next week !!!!
