I don't agree with this at all (and I've been burgled more than once). I think it's an absolute tragedy that people have nothing more in their lives. The only burgler who was caught red-handed, in my son's bedroom when we were mercifully out, had had a most sad life, in and out of institutions since he was a child, no family support of any kind, no experience of anything but crime. He was very young - I went to the court case - and was to me a tragic figure, not a wicked one.

Thank you all again for your concern! Although I appreciate the motivation behind Tommo's and Jonathan's fire and brimstone hell-raising on my behalf, I certainly don't feel like that myself. In fact I don't really harbour much at all against whoever did it (almost certainly a kid/kids looking for quick drugs money). And I don't feel those other things one is meant to feel on these occasions either - violation etc. Mostly I feel irritated by the bother of it, having to spend so much time dealing with the bluddy door etc. 

That's exactly how I'd feel, martle - and I agree with Mary's post too.

I've never been burgled while out, but I did have my laptop and quite a bit of cash stolen while I was asleep by someone I'd invited into the house, which made me feel very stupid, but how can you know? Anyway, apart from wishing I could get the laptop back (I did manage to speak on the phone to the person who'd taken it, but they denied it), I just was irritated by the whole bother (and expense) of having to call the police, get a new computer etc. Same every time I've had my mobile stolen, which is 4 times now I think. It's no use wishing bad luck on people who probably have problems in their life anyway. And even in terms of getting property back, if I thought I could do so by making friends with the thief then I'd think of that as a good solution, not a form of giving in. It's not really us vs. them.

I'm usually quite mellow about things as well.  I was at work and (despite it being lunchtime) was somewhat wound up.  I should, perhaps, have added one of these at the end: 

I've not been reading the grumpy rants recently, so missed martle's bad news. I've had stuff stolen a few times, narrowly evaded a mugging by lifting the microphone stand I was carrying at the time off my shoulder and making it look as if it was a lot heavier than it actually was, etc. but never, so far, been burgled.

Deep sympathy, martle. What you might need is a neighbour in the Met., which I now fortunatley have, along with a Neighbourhood Watch run by the Mormon family round the corner.

exactly....?

Grrr. 'Awayday' tomorrow. Whither this, whither that. Exercises in trust. Management games and exercises. Indifferent lunch. Stupid coffee breaks with embarrassing chat unavoidable. A presentation on 'e-learning' (I know that, I can go on to f-learning now!). Early start. Late finish. Grrr. 

They'll only be digestives. If we're lucky. And we'll probably be made to to contemplate their meanings before scoffing them. Grrr.