We had a wonderful day yesterday. A birthday party for my 5yo grandson went just as we’d planned. We had to postpone a day though because of rain here in Chicago. We had a magician, a pool, a slippy-slide, and water-gun fights. We grilled out and everyone was having a great time.







Time for my daughter to go home. Her husband took some of the kids home first and my daughter stayed behind to help clean up. The phone rings. I see my daughter’s face turn pale. While they were over at my house for the party, someone broke into their condo just three blocks away and stole the 52” flat-screen. The Canon photo printer. The fax machine. Her safe with all her important info in it. SS cards, birth certificates. Cash for bills. They took the DVD players and the PS3 with all the games. They took more stuff but I can’t remember what. My daughter was up all night scared to death.

These are brand new condos and the landlord had yet to fix the alarm system that someone had cut before. She’d been complaining for the last month about it.

It seems they broke in through the basement window. And we’re thinking it is someone who had been in the house before. They didn’t tear it up, but seemed to know exactly what they were looking for. She has a 24” flat-screen on the bedroom wall but it is bolted, so they didn’t bother with that one.

The cops came and fingerprinted, so we will see what happens. Anyway, we have both decided we have had enough of this city. I’ve wanted to go back to Wisconsin. And she is going to break her lease and move to the suburbs. She called a lawyer today and it seems she can break her lease because the landlord did not fix the alarm system in a timely manner. Both she and the landlord had to go to the police station today. I just hope they find the bastards that did this. My daughter works hard and then this shit happens. I’m just glad they weren’t home, but it seems like the idiots did this in the daytime. And all of her nosy neighbors who are always out in front or in the back didn’t see a thing. Right...

City life ...give me a farm, no neighbors for miles...and country meadows any day.
[Edited 6/15/09 15:40pm]

Awww I am sorry to hear that April . I can imagine that your daughter does not feel safe anymore . You are right, at least she and her family were not home when it happened and nobody was injured.

I just love the pictures of your family, the kids are adorable ! Somebody told me there will be another one soon .

That's terrible.

I'm so sorry to hear this happened, and so glad that they are all unharmed.



Love to you and your family.

Wow. Terrible. Really sorry to hear about that.Wishing for a lot of strength for everyone.

The pictures are great and made me smile. Beautiful family.

PunkMistress said:

Wow! Sorry to hear that I hope you all get the guys who vandilzed your daugther's house.

hopefully they have homeowners insurance...

lets be greatful no one was hurt...can you image (please don't though) if they were home at the time, or walked in on the burglary...

does your daughter have documentation about the calls/communication that the alarm system was broken?....if so, the condo association may be liable....talk to an attorney...

do kids need to play with guns, albeit water guns?....

thank god noone was hurt. the losses suffered are pains in the asses short time, but noone was hurt. material possessions can be replaced, people can't.

I am so sorry to hear this... I too hope that they catch these criminals and I'm sure your daughter should be able to get out of the lease with no hassle.

Also... sue the landlord!

so sorry, but I am glad it didn't happen while she was alseep in her home. I don't blame her for relocating.

If the neighbors aren't talking its because they are in on it.

thank goodness no one was home, and everyone is safe. Hopefully they have homeowner insurance/renter's insurance and have documented the calls to the landlord. Material items are can be replaced, lives can't.

RenHoek said:

co-sign

Lovely pictures!

So sorry about the rest. Like everyone else has said, Thank God they weren't home when it happened.

Serious said:

Oh he did, did he?

Thank you too. No, my daughter says she can't even sleep at all. She didn't even go to work today she was so upset. There are two bedrooms in the basement and the kids will not sleep downstairs. I don't think they will ever feel safe again.

Here are some more pics. I'm trying to concentrate on the good day. And why they didn't take her new computer (desk-top) I don't know. They did take her laptop though.

Kellee--named after my sis who passed away. Too little to get in on the water-fight.

Stephon Sterling...


Krazy Kaycee...



Miranda...


Family in the grill smoke...



Kameron...with cake icing still on his face.

[Edited 6/15/09 16:12pm]

they wore the clown out.....he looks like he's done!

BlackAdder7 said:

We thought about that. Thank goodness we decided to play cards and they stayed until dark.

The kids had super-soakers...with back packs and tanks. I hate guns too and they are not allowed to play with BB guns or cap guns. I don't see the harm in a super-soaker play fight though.

BlackAdder7 said:

And then some. I had to give him a margarita after his show.

paintedlady said:

Exactly what we thought! The cops are looking at that angle too. That's one of the reasons she can't sleep.

BlackAdder7 said:

I'll find out later exactly what she does and doesn't have. She's supposed to call me when they get back from the police station.

People suck...

noimageatall said:

I know the feeling of not being able to sleep because I was home when it happened to me. They didn't take a thing.

Go to a hardware store and see if they sell those little alarms that you can stick on window frames and doorframes. They are inexpensive and worth the peace of mind.

paintedlady said:

I'll tell her today. Thanks...

What happened, painted? Did you run them off?

noimageatall said:

OMG, I love that picture !

Yes he did .

It's a terrible thing when you cannot feel safe in your own home anymore. It's such a shame .

noimageatall said:

yes, there were 4 teenagers, very young and I had a clever handy... threw it at them and it caught in the doorway next to a kids head and they ran off. I called the cops, no one saw a damned thing. In the afternoon.

Looking back it was funny, but they picked my deadbolt with a metal pic and a pair of shears. smart sons of bitches. I didn't move, I had my neighbors evicted, told my landlord they were selling drugs. :evilol: Their home was raided, no problems since then.

Serious said:

And you know what, Martina? Right about now I wish I could take my family and move to a beautiful island, live in a little house on a hill overlooking the ocean...grow my own veggies... That seems like paradise right now.

get these for now....



http://www.preventsecurit...y.asp?c=25


I bought them in packs of 4... they are easy to install and noisy enough to alert you.

Won't stop a break in, but at least you'll have time to call the police, get a bat and give a loser a concussion if he isn't scared off.
[Edited 6/15/09 16:48pm]

noimageatall said:

I know exactly what you are talking about! Yeah that would be paradise !
If I ever gonna live there you have come to visit us . By then they should be used to pale red haired women too .

What a beautiful family BTW...

paintedlady said:

Geez...you are lucky. And the kid was lucky you didn't throw straight. Or did you mean to miss?

paintedlady said:

I will send this link to my daughter.

Serious said:

paintedlady said:

Thank you...

noimageatall said: