#burgled

Front desk person at YMCA strongly suggested that I call the police. 911 said to call the non-emegency dispatcher. Each time, I was on hold for so long that I had to keep hanging up to do more pressing stuff - like take call from my bank; call emergency road side assistance; call my mom to make sure my spare key wasn't with her in Maine ... by the time I got through to the non-emergency dispatcher it was 10 pm. Three and half hours after incident only to be told to fill out an online report.

Once I had a calmed down a bit, I remembered that there was a women standing at the big mirror at the end of the row of lockers. Not unusual, people stand there all the time. Of course, she was watching people code their lockers. I thought I was clever by putting the numbers back to zero after setting my code instead of spinning the knobs - sometimes you spin them back to your code! Didn't matter, she was watching.

Also, she took my fleece jacket. Why not just take the purse? Because if/when Y staff review the footage between time of occurrance, they'll only see a women in a fleece jacket - my vibrant red purse hidden underneath. And, she probably waited for a group of people to more easily get past the desk. She's either a member or she bypassed having to scan in by getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of people - Y is busy on a weeknight.

Matt and I searched and searched our condo for my spare key. Found his but not mine. Hence the late night call to my mom to check if my key was in Maine by accident. Then it dawning on my that if Matt's key was in the house then my key was in my glove box - our keys are very similar as we both drive Hondas. That worked out once tow truck driver got my door open - didn't have to tow me with my car alarm going off the entire way until my battery died.

Despite doing everything right, I had no chance against a clever thief. She used one of the tactics we learn about in our cyber security trainings - social engineering - by getting beyond the front desk and blending in as a regular gym goer. She targeted me because I was in a hurry, used locker right near the locker room doors and visible in the mirror (not doing that again!) and I brought in my purse, which had my wallet, phone and keys. Every other time I leave my purse in the trunk of my car but if she got my keys she still could've gotten everything as she was using them to find my car in the lot.

I'm not sure if I'll continue to use the pool at the Y. I can take my keys into the workout room with me. Bringing my bag out to the pool? I mean, I can but anyone could rifle through it while I'm doing laps. Get a waterproof pouch to put my car key in? Guess I'll look into it. Just won't shower and change after my swim at the Y; or will only take in shower stuff and change of clothes.

Hope she won some money at the casino with the cash cards she bought with my credit card. When I erased my phone, I could see that whomever had it was at one of the Indian casinos about 45 minutes east of us.