My parents' home was robbed!

[wdwdasiy]

My mom just called me and told me their home was robbed. They left Saturday for a month at the beach and got a call from their exterminator (a family friend) that the house had been broken into. He went over this morning to spray the house and found it. He called the police, thier neighbor (who is a local lawyer) and then them. They drove back right away and should be walking in right now. I live 4 hours from them and wanted to jump in the car to meet them but my mom didn't want me too. She was so teary on the phone and I'm worried about her.
They are very lucky and it seems the house did not get trashed or have any of the big things taken. But my mom did say all her drawers were dumped and he jewlery most likely is gone...nothing to big but most of it was pieces my grandmother left her and things my brother had given her over the last few years.
Just needed to tell someone...thanks for reading.

 

[pixiemagic30]

Oh my word! I'm so sorry to hear that this happened. Sending prayers your way...

 

[momof1princess]

how awful i've been there. our home was robbed when i was 14, but not only did they take everything that wasn't nailed down, they vandalized the house and terrorized our cats to the point they didn't come out for days and were skittish until they died, many years later. my heart goes out to your parents and i pray the situation isn't nearly as bad as they fear.

 

[wdwdasiy]

Just talked to my parents and things are not as bad as they feared. It looks like they were looking for flat screen tvs and guns. My parents don't have any guns Then they opened the tv cabinet and found an old tv and they didn't take it
They did get some coins that my grandfather had collected but they weren't worth much. They also got my father's $35 Timex watch. Dad said he would love to be a fly on the wall when they try to pawn that
I could hear in my mother's voice that she feels so much better...the tears and fear are gone.

 

[DisneyKT]

I am glad your parents are feeling better and that they didn't get away with much. Some people really stink..

 

[wdwmom0f3]

Wow, that's still a scary feeling just knowing that someone was in the home who didn't belong there. Do your parents have an alarm? We have one, but those people are so quick that they could be gone before the police even got here.

I'm glad that your parents are okay. Hopefully they can get back out of town and back to the vacation.

 

[ginnymack]

That makes me so angry that anyone has to deal with that. We were robbed when I was a kid and it is something that I will never forget. I remember feeling violated and I did not even know that word yet. I felt angry and unsafe for a long time. I am so sorry...glad it was just "things" and your parents were not home.

 

[momof1princess]

Just talked to my parents and things are not as bad as they feared. It looks like they were looking for flat screen tvs and guns. My parents don't have any guns Then they opened the tv cabinet and found an old tv and they didn't take it
They did get some coins that my grandfather had collected but they weren't worth much. They also got my father's $35 Timex watch. Dad said he would love to be a fly on the wall when they try to pawn that
I could hear in my mother's voice that she feels so much better...the tears and fear are gone.

that is awesome! i'm so glad i checked in before bed for an update!

 

[StitchFanZ]

Have they closed their checking accounts and stuff? The same thing happened to my parents and the robbers took checks and account info. For months afterwards, the bank kept letting them knowthat someone had tried to cash yet another check on thier closed accounts.

 

[indimom]

Make sure they close or at least track their credit cards/bank accounts because I'm sure they had paperwork in their home with the account numbers, etc...
Hopefully these were just inept bumblers who did no real damage, but better safe than sorry...

 

[wdwdasiy]

Have they closed their checking accounts and stuff? The same thing happened to my parents and the robbers took checks and account info. For months afterwards, the bank kept letting them knowthat someone had tried to cash yet another check on thier closed accounts.

Great idea...didn't think about that at all. Mom said they did go through their office so I'll make sure to tell her about that when I call her tonight. They were going to take the vaulables they do have to their safety deposit box before they go back to the beach. Dad is looking into getting an alarm put in.

I do have to say there are so many blessings to living in a small town. While the police were still there (before my parents had even left Florida to head back to the house) many friends were there to see what they could do. The man that built the house for them (yet another good family friend) went right to work and fixed the doors that were taken off the hinges and the front door that was taken out by the jam. I am always so humbled by the goodness of our fellow man when you are in need.

Thank you all for your kind words and suggestions. This is such a wonderful board with so many wonderful people. Thanks again!

 

[wdwdasiy]

that is awesome! i'm so glad i checked in before bed for an update!

Thanks for checking back. Good to know so many people care.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

Glad to hear that they had only minimal loss. We were robbed twice within a 10 day period and I remember the worst feeling that someone had had their hands all over my underwear......I HAD to wash it before I could wear it!!!! It has been years ago and thankfully we do not live in that house anymore....

 

[dfchelbay]

This happened to my inlaws a few years ago. It turned out to be a lanscape worker that was working down the road and watched the comings and going of my inlaws for a few days to get their routines. When my FIL went to coffee with his friends and my MIL went to morning aerobics he broke into their house house and stole jewelry, money, etc.

Maybe your parents can talk to all the neighbors to see if there was a worker of some sort recently around their street. Maybe the criminal saw them load their car with luggage or something.

Glad things were better than expected when your parent got back home.

 

[chrisn]

Our very first trip to WDW was for 11 days back in 2000 for the Millenium Celebration. On the third day we got a call from my sister telling us our home had been broken into.

I stayed with my kids to finish out the trip and my DH flew home. All his guns, power tools and all my jewely including my 1 carrat wedding ring, and my grandmother's 50th anniversary ring were stolen.

I cried for a month about my wedding ring and finally by husband got tired of me bawling and bought me a 2 carrat solitare cause it was the only thing that would shut me up.

I would trade it in a second to get my original back. My heart still aches at the loss of my Grandmothers ring. It's been 10 years.

We know who did it (family member, but it could not be proven. Sometimes I blame myself for not securing my valuables better. I mean I could of rolled my wedding ring up in a sock!

It taught me a valuable lesson but it was a hard one to learn.

I am glad that the robbery was not as bad as first imagined. It certainly could of been.

Protect the things you love and value before leaving your home!

 

[nyyankeegirl]

I'm so sorry that happened to your parents. Thankfully it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
I had something crappy happen to me today.... I was at the gym, and someone busted out my car window & stole my purse. It's been such a hassle today, to cancel credit cards, as well as get my window replaced. I had to drive my 2 kids home from the gym in the cold rain, with no window.
I just don't understand what goes on in some people's heads??
I only had about $6 in cash --- so they really didn't make out in the deal -- but it's way more of a hassle for me. Also, it cost $250 to replace the window. Sorry to vent, but it's been a long day!

 

[wdwdasiy]

I'm so sorry that happened to your parents. Thankfully it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
I had something crappy happen to me today.... I was at the gym, and someone busted out my car window & stole my purse. It's been such a hassle today, to cancel credit cards, as well as get my window replaced. I had to drive my 2 kids home from the gym in the cold rain, with no window.
I just don't understand what goes on in some people's heads??
I only had about $6 in cash --- so they really didn't make out in the deal -- but it's way more of a hassle for me. Also, it cost $250 to replace the window. Sorry to vent, but it's been a long day!

Oh! I'm so sorry!
It is so sad that so may things like this happen. Such a pain to have to take care of all the clean up of a break-in. And for both you and my parents, the clean up is more expensive than what was taken!