“You’re too trusting,” says Lou. I’ve come to realise over the years that I am. Occasionally I lose a bit of innocence though. This morning was one of those occasions.
It’s never nice being stolen from. As I drove home from Brighton this evening, the spectre of the guy who got into my car last night came with me. He took his time in there. You’re finding out about it now, you haven’t missed anything. I’m just writing about it strangely because I feel pretty strange about it. Bastard.
I left my bank card visible in the bit between seats. Also $150 in cash and a pair of sunglasses. Also THE SPARE KEY. Plus a bottle of port, some shortbread, my bose speaker, a mushroom knife and a cap gun. Plus loads of other things that they didn’t take. That’s the stuff I’ve noticed is gone. Maybe some other bits. It was very car boot in there and he took his time and didn’t miss much. He left the gold frock coat and my Gucci shoes.
The spare key though… That’s dumb. I’ll have to get an immobilizer. He was an opportunist, perhaps. But how did he open the door? No signs of force. I’ve reported it as an electronic theft.
Some time around 5am it happened. I was parked on the seafront in Brighton. It’s busy with wreckheads. This really went through everything. He was still awake at 10:03, but that’s the last transaction. Perhaps he couldn’t drive or knew that stealing a car carries greater penalties than using a stolen card – but he still took the spare key which is gonna be a security risk…
I woke up and thankfully logged into my online banking to pay my credit card. I noticed 3 unfamiliar transactions starting at 6am in Budgens. I cancelled my card and went to check Bergie. He was closed, which was likely a passer-by. Carnage inside. I stood looking at it shocked and rang the local police. My parking was about to expire but “that can wait” I thought.
As I was filing the theft report, a traffic warden came and stood beside my car. “This is my car, it’s just been robbed,” I told the guy. “I’m filing a theft report. I can’t get in it until they tell me whether they’re going to do forensics.” “Take your time,” says the warden companionably, and I see him starting to input my number. In disbelief I open the app on speakerphone and I pay £1.90 while reporting the theft. The bastard moves on. He would have tricketed me as I stood there.
I’ve got a report now and my bank tells me the transactions they made will come back to me. I do some amateur sleuthing and establish that whoever used my card was caught on CCTV at Cex in town. The manager lets me have his email to give to the cops. It’s doubtful things will come back to me but good to be able to help them try.
The initial haul on entering the car was so good that I think that’s why they took their time in there. I won’t be leaving nice things in the car again. Damn. It feels weird knowing they were in there for so long. I’ve lost a bit of trust… Still, could’ve been much worse. I could’ve woken up to no car as well as an empty bank.
Lou bought me breakfast and I drove back home with the spectre of the thief next to me. Maybe the key will turn out not to have been in it. I was worried my iPad was, but it’s at home so fingers crossed it is here somewhere and that’s why they didn’t drive off with it…
AlBarclay 