Early Morning Car Break-In

This morning at 6 a.m. I parked Dave's car in front of our gym, the Treehouse Athletic Club, and went inside to teach a class. While I was inside, a man pulled into the parking space next to it in a Black Chevy Tahoe (we have a surveillance video), got out, smashed a window, and stole my handbag which was on the floor under some clothing, as well as Dave's Drivers' License and credit cards from the cupholder. The valuables in my purse included my cell phone, wallet with credit cards and drivers' license and about $20 cash, sunglasses, etc. Fortunately that was all that was valuable and all of it can be replaced. I think it was only 2 days ago that I decided to take my ipod out of my purse and keep it at home.

I STRONGLY encourage you to NEVER leave valuables in your car, even when you think you are at a safe location. The police officer who did the report said gyms get hit a lot because people don't often want to take all their valuables in with them for the short time they are there. The most frustrating thing in all this is the days of my life that are now devoted to replacing things like my prescription glasses, my cell phone, my Drivers' License, the window, and the countless phone calls to stop all the credit cards and freeze our bank account. To add to the frustration, our bank said often when criminals do this they know they only have an hour or so before the accounts freeze, so they drive right to the gas station, fill up and buy treats, head to McDonalds and grab stuff to eat, and purchases like that. This will be quite a few $$ to us to replace all these things, and our feeling of safety and security has been violated, as well as the silly notion that "things like this happen only to other people."

Ironically, I usually drive my cool Grand Caravan to the Treehouse, I usually park somewhere else, and I almost ALWAYS put my purse in the trunk when I go in. I feel so foolish to be victimized in this way because I should know better! Friends and family, if you value your stuff, take care of it! And know that there are people out there who will be happy to take advantage of you if you are careless. I would never want any of you to find yourselves in my position, so lock up those valuables, or better yet, leave them home!

In the meantime, don't call me on my cell phone. I don't know where it is!