Monday, September 10, 2007

Violated!

So I get to work this morning, get into the office, sit down and start the routine of checking emails, assessing the tasks for the day . . . and I start to notice a few things awry . . . cabinets ajar, drawers open. Then I see the steel cabinet that holds financial records is open. That's definitely not right. So, upon further investigation I realize that between yesterday afternoon (when the last authorized people would have been in this office) and this morning, someone has broken into the office - without completely destroying the lock - and they've pried open the steel cabinet and stolen about $400 in cash. They even took a bottle of wine from my fridge! Bastards! All that commentary about feeling violated after a robbery? It's true. I felt violated. And angry! Sure, convenience stores and other businesses are robbed in New York City with great frequency. But to come into a religious non-profit, an organization that gives a lot back to the community, and steal their money? That speaks of a desperation and amorality that surpasses run-of-the-mill thefts. This is a person with no conscience. I know, I know. I'm being naively idealistic to think that the "religious" label might make us less susceptible - if not immune - to criminal mischief. But I'm not quite that idealistic. I do understand that thieves don't necessarily follow the same moral compass as the rest of us. Oh well. Time to start investigating alarm systems and security cameras. Ugh.

2 comments:

One Wink at a Time said...

I hate that this happened to you, not personally actually, but at all. The closest thing I have ever felt to this sort of violation was having a wallet stolen from my glove compartment years ago while at a nightspot. It creeped me out that someone stranger was in possession of my personal items but angered me more that a person could have such little regard for another's personal property and feelings, even though a stranger.
I wonder what happens to a person that makes them totally disregard common decency and respect for (the belongings of) others.

One Wink at a Time said...

Lose "stranger" in line 5. Coffee obviously hasn't kicked in yet... ;-)