That is exactly what happened. I wasn't there when it happened, so I wasn't hurt in any way physically. And I didn't then own much of any worth, so only a few things were taken. But everything had been pawed through and thrown about. I can't tell how deeply disturbing it is to know that someone, some stranger, has gone through and touched all your underwear, looked at all your photographs of your family, and taken some small piece of jewelry that's been in your family for generations. If it's ever happened to you, you know I couldn't live there any more, not one night more. It turned out, by the way, according to my neighbors, that it was almost certainly the janitor's son, which stunned me at the time but didn't seem to surprise any of my more-seasoned neighbors. The police just told me not to expect to get anything back. I felt assaulted. The underwear was perfectly normal underwear. Nothing kinky or shameful, but it was the idea of them being touched by someone I didn't know or want touching them. I threw them away, unused ever again. You know, this is off-topic but I've always wondered about this mindset. I've never been burglarized in any meaningful way (although this just made me think of a time that I learned a very distinct lesson about human nature at a very young age) but I don't think I would react as the author did. Anyone on hubski ever been burglarized? Might make this a separate topic. EDIT: interesting answers.Years ago, when I was first on my own, I arrived in New York City, and being naive about the ways of evil doers in big cities, I rented a cheap apartment on the top floor of a six-floor walkup, in the back of the building. That of course, as all seasoned New Yorkers could have told me, meant that a burglar could climb the fire escape or get to the roof by going to the top floor via the stairs inside and then through the door to the roof and climb down to the open window of my apartment.
Two times. Once by people who had help from someone at a realty company. Here's a tip for free: if you get robbed and there's no sign of forced entry, break a window or something. If you tell cops there is no sign of forced entry, they can't do anything as they have no reason to believe that you were really robbed. Also, buy renter's insurance. And back up your computer shit on external hd's and keep them separate from your computer. I lost years of writing and photos that way.
Yep, twice: First was when I was young, maybe 7, and had slept through burglars go past me asleep on a living room couch while on a family holiday. Never really got told much more than that, so it never really bothered me per se. Second was soon after moving out of home for the first time, maybe 8 years ago: ground floor apartment, got a phone call from my sis (who I was living with) with her first words "did you push the couch up against the front door?". Met by my "the fuck?", she twigged and realised we'd been broken in. I raced home, and it looked like a bomb had gone off: place had been smash-and-grabbed, personal items strewn all over the place. Yep, it sucked big time, but at least I learnt a few lessons out of it: Always try to not end up with a ground floor apartment. Change your bedding to at least help you sleep better in your room. Immediately throw your toothbrush away after being burgled.
I've been armed robbed with a handgun, not burglary but not completely dissimilar. It didn't screw with my mind or make me lose faith in humanity. I testified against the guy and I have to say being cross examined by his attorney really pissed me off. He didn't get caught in relation to his crimes against me. He had stolen some jewelry and got caught when his fence got pinched. I heard that he got tens of thousands of dollars in jewlry which the fence paid about five hundred dollars for. I guess you could make the case that a burglary is more violating than armed robbery, someone going through your personal stuff but personally I'd take burglary over getting a gun pointed at me by a crazy meth head anyday.