I Feel So Violated!!!
Wednesday morning I began my workday just like any other. I unlocked the door and carefully locked it up behind me....turned the lights on....put my purse on the counter....and went upstairs to 'clock in.' After I recorded my time, I turned toward the next item on my mental list of things to do to get ready for everyone to arrive at the store so we could take care of our customers. That next item was to prepare the tills for the day. The cash is kept in the safe, along with the day before's back up tape and receipts. This day was much, much different. The safe was in the middle of the room, a large and a little pick were on the floor. There was a lot of concrete looking rubble all over the place. Right in the middle of the safe, a hole big enough for a large fist had been pounded into the side.
Oh F***!!!!! I turned right around, grabbed my cell phone from my back pocket, dialed the police department, and hit the door running! There was no way in hell I was sticking around inside that store for one second longer than necessary.
Our local police department was very good in collecting evidence and interviewing anyone that may have knowledge of leads. They've been great at keeping in communication with me. For this, I am very grateful.
I feel so violated. One would think that being in the position I am, that something like this would have happened before, or that I could expect it to happen at some point, but the shock I feel is crazy. I've spent these last two days trying to make sense of what has happened. Why would someone do something so obnoxious? So against my belief of what is right? Whyam I taking this so personally? I work there, sure. But it's notMy store, it belongs to someone else. I know in my head that the store will still be there when I go to work tomorrow. I also know that come payday, my check will be ready, just like every payday. But I'm so uncertain about the safety of the store. Is this normal? Am I over-reacting?
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I'm really stressed by this. The owner has been on vacation, and he's staying on vacation until he's ready to come back. He is aware of the situation, but just like everything else that's REALLY important, I get to clean it up. I was thinking about that....if my house caught on fire while I was on vacation, I would come home. But apparently, he either thinks enough of me to 'handle' it, or he is simply disconnected from reality. I'm not sure which.
It is certainly normal to feel disconcerted about such an event . These are hard economic times we are in and things like this are more common in times like this .
Yeah, I know it's hard out there. Right now, I just feel like being a 13 year old and jumping up and down while screaming, "It's NOT Fair!!!!"
It might be more productive to start to investigate some good security systems ...
That's a real OMG moment.
I don't find your reaction strange at all. You have worked there for years, you found the reality of a crime. You sound quite normal. I find the owner's reaction a bit odd. Yes, it's nice that he feels so comfortable to leave you to clean up the mess, and that is a compliment, but at the end of the day, it's his business. I know that he must have insurance, and maybe that is why he is so calm and cool, but still, it is his business. I was raised in a family business, and if that was the morning I woke up to, you better believe my parents would have been home on the next flight, and I am their daughter.
Nothing wrong with you girl. You feel violated, because the place you spend the bulk of your day in, your home away from home was violated, and you have a strong connection to your other home. All robberies leave you feeling violated. You're quite normal.
Concealed carry. Quick and efficient solution.
Even though it wouldn't have helped in this situation (other than make me feel not so vulnerable), I have been planning on doing that. It's time for me to get off the pot and take some action. I do need to speak with the owner to see what his thoughts are on this. It is his business and property, so don't want to go against his wishes.
Oh Leona! You poor thing! Of course you feel violated. Especially with you being in charge right now. I can't believe the owner didn't want to come back after his store was robbed. That's just craziness.
Your reaction is quite the norm and "violated" is the word I hear/read most often in these occurrences.
After several neighborhood burglaries, a number of neighbors invested in video surveillance cameras ... somewhat comforting in one way, but a bothersome revelation in another.
Hopefully the perpetrators will be caught, tried and convicted.
You like many, many others will go through an emotional sequence ... shock, disbelief and, maybe ... acceptance, not acceptance of the wrongness of the act, but that it could happen to any of us.
Leo,
He obviously has no important wishes, or he would have been back by now. Don't ask questions to which you don't really want answers. Just do what you feel is needed and let him know later. He left you in charge, so take charge. No need to advertise what you're doing; you're in charge. Neale made me the admin on several groups he has. That means that I make decisions. Anytime he doesn't like those decisions or doesn't trust my judgement, he will remove me from that position. Until then, I do what I consider to be needed. You're in the same position; do what's needed. Always better to do that than to try to get a decision out of someone who doesn't like making decisions (not that Neale isn't willing to do so, of course, but your boss obviously isn't).
Oh yeah, an article on KK that all members should look at.
I'm a little late to this thread, but if your community has a strong community/business involvement with the Police dept., and, of course, Neighborhood Watch, you might want to look into a Neighborhood Watch kind of arrangement in your businesscommunity. Where I live, the neighborhood Watch Policeliaisonalso has a business-watch spin-off who deals with local businesses in order to try to reduce/discourage crime. The officer meets with business owners who then get tips on ways they can discourage/prevent crimes. Of course, your boss will have to be willing, but isn't it in his best interests to do whatever he can to keep his business protected and his employees safe? You have my sincere hopes and wishes that you never, ever, have to go through something like that again!