July 15, 2006 — some Americans we’ve met had their laptops stolen from their home on a weekend afternoon while they were out. This is theft against property, but it has had far-reaching emotional implications for them. They lost the computers with some valuable files, but they also lost the feeling of being safe at home in the condo they live in.

The thief came in via a locked window without bars on it, and their landlord has since paid someone to put bars on. But, in a manner so common here, it’s been several weeks and the work hasn’t been done yet. People have told this couple that sometimes thieves wait a while and then return to places where they’ve been successful. Disquieting. It’s not the only story of this sort we have heard lately.

Theft happens. How does this compare with the US? It depends on where in the US you are thinking of, I suppose.