Last night I heard a bump in the night….actually, the first sound was of wood cracking, like someone was breaking up plywood. Unusual sound for 11:30, but sometimes my neighbors are restless. Then the sound of glass breaking….hmmmm…no lights, no neighbors, something was up. I went outside on the main street to see if another lovely drunk had hit a car on the street or perhaps newly released students were vandalizing cars, but nothing.
Back upstairs…then out the back window I saw 4 big guys working over the house next door! I dialed 911, gave a blow by blow of what I was watching from the darkness of my humble abode while the police were dispatched, and watched the theives run off into the darkness with whatever booty they were after. I was thinking to myself how glad I was that the thin fencing separating me from that house was intact and how much I appreciate the crummy landlord over the fence for leaving a 10′ blackberry barracade between my yard and the neighbors.
The police showed up shortly and I watched two of them carefully walk around the back of the house where the theives had broken the french doors. I was overwhelmed with appreciation for those two putting their necks on the line not knowing what they were walking in to, if there was anyone left behind in the house and in what state, if the punks were still out in the darkness, or who knows what else. As I was saying a prayer for their safety I was incredibly thankful for the men and women that are willing to do that day after day and how much we rely on them to be there when we need protection. Their canine backup came shortly after and chased one of the REALLY stupid theives into the darkness as he was coming back to get more…unfortunately the trail went dead and no one was caught. Yet.
Sometimes we grumble when we get a speeding ticket (ok, that may just be me) or other minor infractions, but the next time you have the opportunity to thank a first resonder, think about the underbelly of our society that they have to deal with every day and really mean it. When you hear a bump in the night, know that there are some really awesome people out there who are keeping a watchful eye out for you.
Thanks Tacoma Police.
(And I did pay that speeding ticket….)
By all accounts, the numbers of HUD Foreclosures are on the rise everywhere. As of today there are currently 45 HUD 
