Dear Editor:

I feel compelled to share a story about a very unfortunate event that happened to me in Richmond Hill on Wednesday, Jan. 9. Actually, I guess I want to apologize to my community. I allowed my sense of apparently false security to lull me into inviting crime into our fair town.You see, I moved with my family to Richmond Hill about 18 months ago from a very large city in the western U.S. I was so excited to finally live in a small town again, to feel safe and secure and know that the big, bad world was far, far away. Oops... I better wake up from my daydream now!

Sadly, I made a very foolish overture to a petty thief. I left my purse and cell phone hidden under my front seat (but in my locked and alarmed car) while parked in front of a church in our community. I guess I felt safe - I was in a church parking lot, my items were no way visable, my car was locked and I was inside the building for less than 10 minutes. I returned with my daughter to find our window smashed and my car covered with glass. There was a funeral home less than 25 yards away with people milling about getting ready for a service, workers cleaning the exterior of another building on the church grounds and other cars parked within sight of my own car. And, a thief watching and waiting for an opportunity.

With that said, I’ve filed a police report and insurance claims but, to coin a phrase - I feel so violated. I share the shame with this thief - I made it too tempting for them to pass me by. After all, they had to have been waiting and watching for someone like me as I exited a car with only a set of keys in my hand. The tempation to find the proverbial handbag of my life was just to much to pass by I guess. I’m sorry Richmond Hill...I just made it too easy for a thief to feel right at home in our community. Please don’t follow my lead. I guess our town really is just like the big city I left after all. Crime doesn’t just visit the truck stops and gas stations by the interstate. Now it lives within the tree lined streets of our little town too.