It's amazing how much impact a single word can have. Most of my life I've been striving to keep that label the hell off of me.
I've used phrases like "With the way I look, I might as well have Victim stamped across my forehead."
I've advocated self defense (loudly) and told people to be smart, use their heads.
And last night, I was an idiot. A complete, and utter fool.
I picked the kids up from daycare, and it was hot, so I left my windows down on my car. I wasn't sure if I'd be taking them to CM's house or if he was coming to pick them up, and I didn't want the kids, or me, getting a case of heat stroke on the way over, if we took my car.
Well, CM picked the kids up, and I promptly forgot about my windows being down.
As I was drifting off to sleep last night, I thought about it. And instead of getting up, throwing on a bath robe, and going out to secure my vehicle like I should have, I thought "it's not going to rain tonight" and rolled over and went to sleep.
When I woke up this morning, my roommate informed me that my trunk was open.
Yeah, my car was ransacked.
XM Radio, gone.
Bookbag, gone. Although they were nice enough to dump out all of my books before they took the bag.
Wallet, gone. That one hurts the most, it had my driver's license, debit cards, concealed carry permit, and social security card in it.
Tried to take my car stereo but they couldn't get it out. I need to remember to thank my brother for putting it in correctly when he did it, they didn't have the tools to get it out of the mounting.
I was all right until I remembered that one of the debit cards was to an account that isn't mine. Then I felt like an absolute heel. That one has already been canceled, and I'll be canceling mine as soon as I can get ahold of someone at the bank.
Once I got the debit card taken care of, I was back to being pissed off about it, until the officer used that word.
A single word, and it was all I could do to keep from bursting into tears right then and there. The only thing that saved me was that another part of me was wanting to slap the officer for calling me a victim.
But, I am. A victim of a crime, through my own stupidity. Might as well get used to it, as much as I dislike it.
Hell of a way to start my birthday.
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9 comments:
1) Happy Birthday dear
2) I did much the same thing, when it happened to me. When I got into my car accident, several years ago (may it be the only one I face *knocks on something*), I had a detatchable faceplate on my stereo.. I was in such shock when I got home that I promptly went to bed. Stupid me left the faceplate on. That night, a smash-and-grab party came through the apartment complex, nailing 8-9 cars. Mine was one of them; stereo, gone (they cut the wires off, so I had live wires in my dash; yay!) my glove box was all over the car, all my little hidey-holes open (one nearly ripped off), and my backseat a mess. (oh, and my driver window completely gone. Amusingly, that was the door that wasn't opening at the time.)
It completely, absolutely, sucks darling. I know. Just.. *sighs* Just gotta pick it back up and keep on going. I don't know what else to do.
No disrespect, but the lesson you learned was cheap at twice the price.
Glad it wasn't a mistake that threatened your personal safety.
Tanksoldier... problem is, it's a lesson I already knew. Like I said, pure stupidity. I knew better, and I blew it off.
Don't worry, I'm kicking myself hard enough for everyone.
I'm sorry that happened. Sucks. On campus, some creep broke into my car, popped the hood, and stole parts of my car's engine.
I'm sure you already know this, but in addition to cancelling your bank cards, you may want to call a couple of additional places.
1) Call all 3 credit agencies and put a fraud alert on your credit report since the yoyo has your SSN. They may want a copy of the police report to verify the theft.
2) Call the SSA and let them know your card has been stolen. Ask for next steps from them.
3) If you had medical/dental/vision insurance, call the company(ies) and let them know that your cards have been stolen. Have them put your accounts on 100% prepay review so that all claims that come in on your account will be reviewed before payment.
(My boss does speaking engagements out in the community re: identity theft/medical identity theft. I do her powerpoint shows)
Leiandra-
I'll be calling the credit agencies today, I had already planned on doing that.
Already called SSA and got things in motion, they're sending me a form. Which should be here within two weeks. Gotta love red tape.
No insurance cards in the wallet, so I don't have to worry about that one.
Dang.
I'd probably think about doing it again... as bait with me hiding in the bushes with some select toys...
HBDTY
Did you make photocopies of your documents? I know it isn't legal ID, but it does make it easier to get them replaced. I have copies of mine in the fireproof safe at the foot of my bed for just in case.
Hope you have a better birthday next year (if you decide to resume having them, that is.)
I'm so sorry this happened to you. Kicking yourself over it isn't going to help you, though.
Living in the city, everything is always locked (not that it helps all the time.) Gas thieves hit our apartment complex a few weeks back, luckily my gas tank is the kind you need to open from the inside of the car, so I was spared, though my neighbor wasn't so lucky.
You'll get everything straightened out quickly, and soon this will fade into memory.
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