Theft

[mocachapeau]

Last night, while I was in the sports center watching my son's soccer game, someone smashed the rear window of my car and stole my briefcase from behind the passenger seat. The most obvious lesson I learned was to never leave anything in the car, but there was something curious (possibly) about it.

I had parked on the street, across from the center, next to a small wooded area that had several paths going through it. As I was sitting at home thinking about it, I realised that the person who did this probably smashed the window, ran into the woods away from prying eyes, rifled the bag and tossed whatever did not interest them. In the briefcase I had the three sets of keys from my three places of work, a magnetic card for a few doors, about two years worth of non-negotiable pay slips (no home address, no social insurance number, no bank account number), a few useless papers (I hope they were useless), a very old copy of Ouspensky's The Fourth Way and a brand new copy of Riviere's Fulcanelli.

I went back to the woods this morning to see if I could figure out the most logical path this person might have taken, with the hopes of finding my books lying around. Sure enough, in a garbage can along the first path I had chosen, I discovered what looked like all my pay slips and the Ouspensky. Unfortunately the keys and security card were not there, and I didn't find my Fulcanelli. And that was the part I found curious : why the Fulcanelli?

Why would someone be interested in keeping that book, probably having no idea what it is, when they were not interested in the other book? Or is it just because it was new?

I thought about what happened in relation to me. That book was the only thing I lost that was of particular importance to me. Alchemy is the one subject that I haven't delved into yet because I wonder whether I will be able to understand it. But I had decided to give it a go instead of selling myself short. And no sooner did I begin exploring the subject than the first book I had was quickly taken away. What's more is the book came to me as a gift, sort of.

Maybe the only significance to all of this is the first lesson of not leaving things in my car. Then again, maybe I should get myself another copy of Fulcanelli, right away, and get down to work!

Is this just silly?

 

[Joe]

I think the break in is the most significant aspect. A signal from yourself to yourself to be more careful, that there is danger out there (and not just thieves) and to be aware of it. Not sure if the missing Fulcanelli is significant, seems like the explanation could be that it was new so the thief decided to keep it to try and sell. Times are hard and getting harder for a lot of people in Western nations. Thefts will very likely continue to rise.

 

[XRz]

I think the break in is the most significant aspect. A signal from yourself to yourself to be more careful, that there is danger out there (and not just thieves) and to be aware of it. Not sure if the missing Fulcanelli is significant, seems like the explanation could be that it was new so the thief decided to keep it to try and sell. Times are hard and getting harder for a lot of people in Western nations. Thefts will very likely continue to rise.

This resonates with my original thoughts upon reading your post mocachapeau, that being i believed the reason the Fulcanelli was kept was because of its condition when compared to the "old" Ouspensky, as you described it. Its the same reason that a clean "new" car will sell for more than a dirty "old" car when parked in a lot with a for sale sign.

I too would agree with the break-in being the most significant part overall, and perhaps this was a way to remind yourself to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

 

[Ca.]

Last night, while I was in the sports center watching my son's soccer game, someone smashed the rear window of my car and stole my briefcase from behind the passenger seat. The most obvious lesson I learned was to never leave anything in the car, but there was something curious (possibly) about it.

I had parked on the street, across from the center, next to a small wooded area that had several paths going through it. As I was sitting at home thinking about it, I realised that the person who did this probably smashed the window, ran into the woods away from prying eyes, rifled the bag and tossed whatever did not interest them. In the briefcase I had the three sets of keys from my three places of work, a magnetic card for a few doors, about two years worth of non-negotiable pay slips (no home address, no social insurance number, no bank account number), a few useless papers (I hope they were useless), a very old copy of Ouspensky's The Fourth Way and a brand new copy of Riviere's Fulcanelli.

These are desperate times for for some, as well as the opportunist, whom recognize situations, people, and environment's, that favor there deviant activities. What I have come to scene about this element can be turned around by thinking for moment if aim making it easy for them to take advantage of me, by making a conscious effort to think before I leap. Stadiums, malls, shopping centers, movies complexes and park, parking lots as well the time of day play a role in there success.

Situations where the occupation of my time by other elements such standing in line, and being occupied for a time that that gives them time to do what they do. It would come down as realized by mocachapeau that leaving anything in car these days is asking for it . I now leave the glove box open empty, as well as the arm rest glove box as to expose to any prying eyes that there's nothing available or visible. And that can be a good deterrent from vandals as they won't risk detection for nothing gained.

As things continue to degenerate with the economy the negative elements will take violence as means of intimidation and persuasion to take what they want. In an area that was being hit by restaurant bandits that would come in and display guns and demand everyone to empty there pockets , I would stop caring a wallet with credit cards and enough cash for the meal.

And even the thought of carrying a wallet that would be filled with it cards that had no value but looked thick with satisfaction for the would be thief as means to avoid disappointment to and retaliation, and possible violence. Its sad to have to live this way and once paradise has now become jungle in the United States if not in most major cites in the world. I suppose vigilance is the key married to knowledge. No yourself and your weakness's and know the the enemy.

 

[mocachapeau]

Thanks Perceval, XRz and M.A.O,

You're probably right about all that, and that's pretty good advice about emptying the car and not carrying more than I need. I have always had a little bit of the "that won't happen to me" mentality. I've never been robbed before or anything like that, as far as I can remember. I'm starting to think maybe I've just been really lucky over the years. I guess the longer I go without anything like that happening just raises the odds that sooner or later it will.

 

[truth seeker]

Good advice given above. This sounds like a theft possibly done by someone taking drugs. The book was probably taken to be sold as stated and they probably thought there might be a computer in the briefcase.

I knew someone who had two of these kinds of thefts in a relatively short period of time between both. Unfortunately I don't think their uncommon.