When It Rains...

Well, if you haven't read my previous blog, do that first before reading this. It's good background info.

For those of you who don't know, I am staying in a hotel this summer as I work far away from where I live. I so desperately miss my safe and semi-secure apartment.

So I stayed in Laan's room last night on her couch. Before she and Malu went to work (I decided to go in late if I could get back in my room), they came back to the room. Malu wanted to tell me that she talked to the manager and I may be able to get back in my room. So I went down and talked to her, got a key for my room, and started to get ready for work and pack up some things. I was in my room for a couple of hours (deciding it would be easier to shower in my room) and heard the building inspector in the hallway talking to the manager. He didn't really have any new information, so I went back to packing. Before leaving at noon, I looked at my computer. Should I leave it, or take it down to Laan's room? Well, her room is a small one, and I thought this would only be for a few days at most, so I decided to leave it in there. I grabbed my external hard drives so if I wanted to listen to some music I could. I dropped some stuff off in Laan's room, went back to mine for a second load. I left the hotel at noon to go to work.

It was the longest day at work I'd ever had, even though I usually work 8 - 5 (today was 12 - 4:30). Malu wanted to go back with me, so we left Laan there to work just a little longer. We talked to the manager again, and found out more information. The sprinkler "accident" was not. Someone had intentionally ripped it out of the wall, causing the system to activate. Also, the half of the 3rd floor above the flooding was also evacuated, and the power was turned off to prevent electrical fires... meaning Malu was out of her room now too!!! So, tonight, we're having a slumber party.

Well, Malu and I dropped our bags off in Laan's room and went to our own rooms to gather some more things. I opened the door to my room and my heart fell to my stomach. My computer was gone. After closer examination, my monitor, keyboard and mouse were also gone. I went downstairs and asked Kathy (the manager) if anyone had access to my room today. She said, "just the guys who came in with the blowers to dry out the floors." "Well, my computer was stolen." A policeman was already here about the vandalism, so he took my name and told me he'd contact me when he finished. So, a little while later, he came up to Laan's room (now my & Malu's room as well) and I told him everything I could.

It was here when I left my room at noon to go to work, and at 4:45 when I came back, it was gone. I gave him a value estimate, told him it didn't look like forced entry, and we walked down to my room to check it out. We looked at some cords & the dust on the table for fingerprints; if it had been a homocide, they would have combed the place for fingerprints, but since it was a (small) felony theft, and the surfaces weren't conducive to fingerprinting... While we were there, he said since the room was locked, the hotel should be liable for the theft.

I talked to Kathy again; she was waiting to hear back from the corporate office about the insurance, and she said she'd definitely mention my situation when talking with them.

I heard some people in the room right next to mine, and I figured what would it hurt to ask? I knocked on the door, and a short, young hispanic man answered the door, pulling his ipod headphones out of his ears. I explained the situation, but I'm not sure if he understood. He dragged his friend out of the shower. This guy stuck his head around the door and I repeated my questions: "Were you in your room between noon and 4:45 today, and did you hear anyone in my room?" He said no, he hadn't been here that time, but the doors were left open for a time today to allow the men with blowers access to the rooms. I thanked them and apologized for disturbing them, and was momentarily glad to know that the hotel was indeed responsible.

I hope whoever took it feels guilty about it. Not for me to feel better, but maybe that they'd stop stealing. I'm upset and I'm sure my blood pressure is elevated (mostly because I just got that computer a few months ago and I hadn't backed up my data yet), but it's just a computer, I keep telling myself. I guess I won't be working in the hotel during the weekends & evenings as my advisor wanted me to.