Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey fellow herpers,

I think the worst thing that can happen to any herper (besides major ant infestation, lol) is having your privacy violated, your "loving home" destroyed, and all your beloved things torn inside and out by low down scumbags.

I got back late last night and discovered that my place had been broken into. Yes it is a sad thing, however since i am from inner san francisco it is nothing new (car broken into twice last year as it was parked in the driveway! house broken into 2 times alone last year in sf, professionals- they sawed right through the gates...and people ask why i moved? LOL).

But these were kids most likely (window they broke to get in was pretty small), rummaging for cash, jewelry and other easy to grab things. It looks like all they got were a box of DVD movies (25-30), some old Michael Jordan cards, and some other random things??

LUCKILY THEY DIDNT TOUCH ANY OF MY REPTILES! And for that I thank God!!!!...the first thing i did was run inside and check all the babies and all the animals, i didnt breath a sigh of relief until i had pulled out EVER DANG SHOEBOX AND SWEATERBOX ON EVERY DANG RACK I HAVE!...actually all the animals in the house probably freaked or scared them off! hahaha...

anyways, i just wanted to share that bad things happen all the time, even to good people- but that is no reason to get all upset or down. Even through all those times of break ins- NEVER ONCE HAVE ANY OF MY ANIMALS BEEN TAKEN OR HARMED IN ANY WAY. Some call it luck? But I believe strongly and know that someone upstairs is always looking down on me 24/7 and for that I am always thankful. Take care and when have i time (after i clean up the mess) i'll post some pics. Peace

-SFgeckos

Your comment about the reptiles freaking out the theif reminds me of a true story my friend sent me on a funny e-mail last year that I just can't forget.

An 8 year old girl was allergic to furry creatures but loved animals dearly. So her parents went to a department store and bought what the employee told them was a lizard that would grow to be about 1 foot long. Turns out, it was actually a baby NILE monitor!!! As time passed, the pet grew larger and larger but the girl would not let her parents get rid of it since she loved it so much. Eventually, it grew so big that they had to convert a spare room in their basement into its habitat (with shavings, heat lamps, and a log or two). One night the girl and her parents went out to eat with some friends and didn't get back until late. When they returned home what they saw shocked them. A strange young man dressed in jeans and a hooded sweatshirt lay unconscious on their kitchen floor with a small bag of the mother's jewelry in his hand. The monitor was casually strolling about the rooms. During the night, the monitor had gotten out of his room somehow (the sliding door hadn't been closed all the way) and made his way upstairs. A theif had broken into the house, and after stealing some jewelry went to leave. As he walked through the kitchen, he spied the monitor and passed out cold on the spot. And that's where the family found him just minutes later!!!
Just a fun story to cheer up your day!!! lol!!!

Cleo
1:1 leos...soon to be 1:5!!!

n/p
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Email me
Geckoland USA

kkk

Jon-

I'm so glad YOU are ok, and your animals too. I can imagine how violated you must feel. Can't wait to see your pics, especially Nephrurus pics!
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Peace-
Kelli Hammack
H.I.S.S.
email me

broken into. Ive never had my house broken into but i can imagine your shock and fear for your animals :-[.

consider yourself lucky and are willing to say god had a hand in it.

That's a real bummer. Good thing is no one was hurt. Good luck in the clean up though!
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Josh
My Email

I am glad everyone including yourself are ok. Although I love to let people look at my stock and ask questions I am always apprehensive about letting people I hardly know come over to "pick out the one they want". I usually will arrange to meet them somewhere. Kind of sad but now a days it has to be done. Once again glad to hear you and the babies are ok!

I have a friend in Austin, Texas that was burglarized a little over a year or two ago. They stole everything she had of any value, her phone, computer, window air conditioner unites, TV, etc. She hold a large collection of bats (she rehabilitates and studies them), I always wonder what the people that broke into her thought when they were faced with a flying fox with a wingspan of over 3 feet! What was really sad is that she kept her insectivore bats in a converted barn outside. She was using a window air conditioner to cool the barn. The burglars took the window unit and left the barn doors open. Enough said. Luckily, after hours of searching, she found each and every bad (over 100). All us bat rehabbers pitched together to get Barbara a computer, AC unites, etc. Being a avid bat rehabber and researcher she made little money and used what she had towards bat rehabilitation. I know what you have just experienced was probably one of the most stressful things in your life. If there is anything we can do to help, just let me know.
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Justyn
Intense Herpetoculture

Jonathan-

So sorry to hear about the invasion of your privacy and theft. Glad it wasn't worse than it was, and your geckos are okay. What area of SF are you in? I'm over in Lakeside. I'm paranoid about security so have a central alarm system and lots of security "extras". I hope all the secutity extras deters people from even trying. So far so good. I grew up in SF, and have never had my home burglarized, though I've been held up at gunpoint and had my car broken into several times.

Sarah

Thats a real drag... Very sorry to hear that this happened... Glad that all the critters are okay though, and yeps the big guys always got an eye out for ya... Good luck with the clean up.

Richie