Jun 28, 2009

Shocker.

This week has been tough. The rain kept us indoors for hours at a time. Nothing will make a baby and a Mama more stir crazy than looking at the same toys for hours on end. So when the sun came out on Thursday I decided to straighten my hair, put on a dress, and head to the park.

We left at 11:30am. From 11:45 to 12:45 we were playing in the sand, practicing pulling up, and going down the slide. Who could have known what was happening at home.

At 1:00pm I was minutes away from putting Oliver down for a well deserved nap. As always I opened the door, guided the stroller in, and pulled Oliver out and into my arms.

Having just recently experienced diaper rash for the first time I know you can't change diapers often enough. As I walked towards Oliver's room to change him I noticed the bathroom door was open. Hmm. I thought it was closed when I left. I kept walking.

Next I noticed tons of change and perfume samples scattered on the floor. Huh. Strong wind gusts must have knocked over something...but wait...I turned the corner and looked into my room and saw all the contents of my dresser including the drawers on the floor.

SHIT.
PANIC.
SOMEONES BEEN IN HERE.
ARE THEY STILL HERE?
GET OUT NOW.
RUN.

With Oliver still in my arms I run towards the door and with all my might try to open the door. But I can't. It's stuck. No matter how hard I try, I cannot open the door. It's stuck on something and won't open. That's when I see the living room. The storage trunk is flipped over and everything is dumped onto the floor.

LET ME OUT.
I CANT GET OUT.
IS THE PERSON STILL IN HERE?
SHIT.
SHIT.
LET ME OUT!

I call the super since he works in the building and always answers. He answers on the first ring and I scream into the phone my apartment number, that I'm stuck, and we've been burglarized. Within two minutes he's cracking open my door with a crowbar.

WE'RE SAFE.
OLIVER IS SAFE.
I AM SAFE.

The next five hours consist of policemen taking statements, detectives checking video surveillance, and forensics taking fingerprints off the mirrors. Also during this time we begin to realize all that's been stolen which consisted of nothing out of the ordinary... except for my perfume.

The most unnerving thing (there are many unnerving things about this) is that this was clearly an inside job. We live in a doorman building and there are 24 surveillance cameras throughout the building. Also, our apartment is on a rather high floor. This asshole took the stairs to get in and out. Why wouldn't they try the lower floors? And finally, I don't keep a regular schedule, I keep a baby's schedule. I was gone for an hour and a half and someone had to have been watching me and known exactly which apartment I live in.

The good thing is we were not home. The good thing is all material things can be replaced. The good thing is Oliver is okay. The bad thing is the memory, the loss of trust and sense of safety.

We put bats under our bed should we ever need them in the middle of the night.

My purpose in writing this is not to scare anyone, rather to raise awareness that even when we think we live in safe areas with locks on our doors and doormen acting as gatekeepers to our privacy you must always be on top of your security.

Please be safe and aware. Knowledge is power.

13 comments:

  1. Ohhhhhh, Alexis!!!! That's SO scary! Did they catch him on camera at all? So glad you guys are ok--- that's terrible!!! xox

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  2. I'm so sorry to hear that! Getting robbed is awful. Glad to hear everyone is ok!

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  3. Oh my gosh! Glad you all are ok! I hope they catch the person who did this :(

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  4. that is so scary!! I'm glad you and Oliver are safe!!

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  5. Mama, I'm so glad that you, Oliver, and Brett are safe and sound. It is the sense of privacy that can sometimes be invaded.
    Take care of yourself.
    Do some yoga, embrace yourself, know you are loved and that I love you and that if you need ANYTHING, I'm here for you!
    If you need me to fly out for the weekend and squirt some cheap perfume in the eyes of whomever did this to you and your loved ones, you say the word, and I'll book the flight girly!

    ooooo & xxxxx,
    d

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  6. That is so terribly scary!

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  7. Oh no Alexis! That is so terrible. Adam and I also live in a high rise building on a very high floor, and often take our security for granted. In addition, about half the people on our floor leave their doors unlocked all day and night. I am glad you are your family are safe. Thinking of you:).
    Jenni

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  8. I am so glad to hear you and Oliver are safe and sound. It is a very scary thing to deal with and I am so sending all my love to you!!! xoox K

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  9. omigosh, i'm so sorry to hear this! i have the same type of security in our building! you must've been so scared!!!

    thank god your okay!!!!

    xo
    maggie & ruby

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  10. oh wow, dude, that's some scary shit, but glad to hear all is fine.

    I agree too, it would have to be an inside job.

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  11. Oh Alexis, how terrifying. I'm so sorry this has happened. I would have to agree, someone was watching and knew that you had left. dont know about you but I'd be moving my ass out of there! Good luck and I hope things get back to normal for you.

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  12. AnonymousJuly 14, 2009

    How terrifying. My heart was in my throat when you couldn't get that door open. I'm glad you're okay.

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  13. That is so scary! Glad you are safe.

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