RickInOz

A twisted reference from Alien Ant Farm or, for those with more conventional tastes, Michael Jackson.

Our Christmas and New Year have been good in many ways. We have enjoyed the company of family and friends and been given generous gifts. So we should be full of the obligatory seasonal cheer.

Unfortunately two separate, yet linked events have rather soured our attitudes. A couple of days after Christmas I came out of the house to cycle to work as usual. You can imagine my surprise to see a conspicuous patch of empty air where my bike should have been. That’s right – during the night some horrible little toerag had stolen it.

Of course we reported this to the police who were sympathetic, but could offer little more than advice to ring them if we saw it at one of the local pawn shops. Fortunately I made sure our bikes are covered by the household contents insurance, so it only took a phone call to arrange for a replacement.

This might have been bad enough but last night Regan’s bike was taken too. Now mine was not secured terribly well, so I suppose some of the blame rests with me. However Regan’s bike was chained to one of the posts of our carport. The thieves must have spotted that her bike was less obtainable on their first visit and so returned with some bolt-cutters to liberate it too.

Obviously this has left us somewhat shaken. We are stymied by having an open back yard with no roller-door on the carport while our landlord sorts out planning permission with Adelaide City Council. In the meantime anyone can wander up the side lane and straight into our back garden, as the thieves obviously did. This lack of security is making us feel rather vulnerable as there is nothing to stop them coming back with reinforcements and breaking into the house through the back door. What is also of concern is that both thefts occurred while we were at home, and we were none the wiser until the morning after.

On a more practical side it has come as a significant inconvenience. I use my bike as principle means of transport and being without wheels will make getting around far more difficult. At the moment I’m relying on lifts from Regan and using the bus. Neither provide the convenience factor of being able to cycle wherever and whenever I like. It has highlighted the downsides of a one car household and reliance on any one mode of transport.

In time all will be back to normal as the insurance company will replace our bikes and the roller-door will be installed. Until then we will feel a distinct unease here and be on the lookout for suspicious people wandering the neighbourhood. I know in the grand scheme of things it could have been a lot worse but the victim factor still applies.

Hopefully I’ll have some more optimistic posts in the near future.