Rachel and I Still Okay
Bonjour tout le monde!
The violent crime rate in Montreal is among the lowest in all of North America. Also, few people own guns so gun related crimes are rare. It turns out that these sorts of statistics relate not only to violence and bullets, but also to the sorts of crime that DO occur.
Two nights ago at about 12:30 a.m. a person broke into our house. Heavy footsteps woke me up. I grabbed my phone and dialed 911 and then a person walked past the doorway to my bedroom, effectively standing 3 feet from the end of my bed. The police answered just in time to hear me yell, "Get the hell out of my house! Get the hell out of my house!" The person froze, looked at me for a minute, and then ran down the stairs and out the front door, actually bothering to close the door behind them. Rachel and I were unharmed and nothing was taken.
Once the person had gone I was completely shocked that nothing else happened. In a weird way I felt more confused that they didn't do anything then that they'd broken in. With my American sensibilities I couldn't figure out why anyone would break into a house and then not DO anything. The police came and searched the apartment and the backyard, advised me on my door and window locks and then left. A valiant friend came over at 1 in the morning and spent the night in the guest room to make sure Rachel and I felt more secure.
Without guns to worry about, or violence on the brain, it turns out theft and home break-ins are more common. Earlier today my locksmith was telling me that thieves even lower themselves down from the roofs of buildings.
Additionally interesting has been the way people have reacted to my story and how it relates to where they are from. The locals have been concerned but casual at the same time, though two different men did check to see if I needed a boyfriend to help me feel safe. People from outside of Quebec have been the ones that have been the most concerned. My hair dresser remarked that it was likely not only my yelling, but my yelling in ENGLISH that scared the person off. Our neighborhood is predominately French and Anglos are regarded as being more aggressive and unpredictable in relation to the Quebecois.
Obviously the whole thing is upsetting but it also just reasserts my need and ability to take care of the two of us. We have new deadbolts on each of the three outside doors to our house and chains on the two upper doors. The chains won't prevent a break-in but they'll make noise and stall someone.
Rachel seems fine after the whole thing. Mostly she seems to have just seen the break-in as an opportunity to sleep in Momma's bed.
Love to all of you.
We miss our friends,
Elaine
The violent crime rate in Montreal is among the lowest in all of North America. Also, few people own guns so gun related crimes are rare. It turns out that these sorts of statistics relate not only to violence and bullets, but also to the sorts of crime that DO occur.
Two nights ago at about 12:30 a.m. a person broke into our house. Heavy footsteps woke me up. I grabbed my phone and dialed 911 and then a person walked past the doorway to my bedroom, effectively standing 3 feet from the end of my bed. The police answered just in time to hear me yell, "Get the hell out of my house! Get the hell out of my house!" The person froze, looked at me for a minute, and then ran down the stairs and out the front door, actually bothering to close the door behind them. Rachel and I were unharmed and nothing was taken.
Once the person had gone I was completely shocked that nothing else happened. In a weird way I felt more confused that they didn't do anything then that they'd broken in. With my American sensibilities I couldn't figure out why anyone would break into a house and then not DO anything. The police came and searched the apartment and the backyard, advised me on my door and window locks and then left. A valiant friend came over at 1 in the morning and spent the night in the guest room to make sure Rachel and I felt more secure.
Without guns to worry about, or violence on the brain, it turns out theft and home break-ins are more common. Earlier today my locksmith was telling me that thieves even lower themselves down from the roofs of buildings.
Additionally interesting has been the way people have reacted to my story and how it relates to where they are from. The locals have been concerned but casual at the same time, though two different men did check to see if I needed a boyfriend to help me feel safe. People from outside of Quebec have been the ones that have been the most concerned. My hair dresser remarked that it was likely not only my yelling, but my yelling in ENGLISH that scared the person off. Our neighborhood is predominately French and Anglos are regarded as being more aggressive and unpredictable in relation to the Quebecois.
Obviously the whole thing is upsetting but it also just reasserts my need and ability to take care of the two of us. We have new deadbolts on each of the three outside doors to our house and chains on the two upper doors. The chains won't prevent a break-in but they'll make noise and stall someone.
Rachel seems fine after the whole thing. Mostly she seems to have just seen the break-in as an opportunity to sleep in Momma's bed.
Love to all of you.
We miss our friends,
Elaine
posted by hawkbrwn at 1:23 p.m.
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