Wee Hour Burglary in OB…it’s more than just taking things!

By Kathy Blavatt / March 16, 2011

Sometimes it’s hard to put something in writing when you’re still hoping for a better ending. But after having told this story over a hundred times, I think it’s important just to get it out there to my friends in writing and not have to keep repeating the sad details.

Since childhood, I have been lived in Point Loma and Ocean Beach. After years of hard work, my husband Ray and I bought an older home in Ocean Beach. It is a work in progress and we find it a perfect outlet for our business and creativity.

My husband does animation for education titles, video and web work. This also includes work for non-profits that work on issues such as clean drinking water, people who have been abused and others. His cartoons can be seen throughout OB.

My work includes teaching and working on autism issues, working with local small businesses and years of community advocacy.

In the last five years, Ray and I have served on the board of the Ocean Beach Historical Society, creating and working on their website and videos, and putting on programs and events. We always hope to show people the wonderful history of Ocean Beach and the importance in preserving this unique community.

Why does any of this matter in this story? Because, on so many levels it is the story.

On March 2nd sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 2:45 a.m., our home was broken into while we were sleeping. Slightly awakened, our roomie thought I’d turned on a light and I thought he’d turned on a light. Neither of us got up to investigate. Which in hindsight may have been a good thing if the thieves had been armed.

The following morning we realized my husband’s computer was gone. We were both frantic and my heart just sank as I realized that my purse and new camera (a Christmas gift) were also missing. Then in disbelief, we discovered that our car was gone! Since the car keys were in my purse and available, the thieves found an easy way to cart off Ray’s iMac.

It appeared that the thieves had attempted to also take my computer by unhooking the power cord and trying to yank it away without unhooking the peripherals.

They stole a video camera and microphone system that was going to be used to record the musicians at the Ocean Beach Historical Society Wisteria Party.

Sadness really set in when I realized they had taken my smaller camera in my purse that I had used the day before to take pictures of my longtime friend’s 90th birthday party. This was something that could never be replaced.

So much of our lives, work and pictures were on Ray’s computer. I was thankful they had not stolen mine too. It would have been even more devastating to lose the Ocean Beach Historical Society work and pictures.

Even though we’ve beefed up our security sleep is hard to come by and I wake at every sound in the night. We still jump every time we see a Honda Element similar to ours drive by. My home has lost its safe nest feel.

We have spent countless hours being put on hold and filling out numerous forms while dealing with the bank and credit card and insurance company. Many hours have been spent talking with police, Neighborhood Watch and locals wanting to stop the crime sprees. We have only begun to rebuild or replace our possessions such as new glasses for Ray (his were stolen in the car). It has been difficult to try to work without Ray’s computer. The list goes on.

When that rotten element that comes into OB comes smashing into your life it becomes very frightening and discouraging. It scars our community.

The good part is that we have some great friends and neighbors who are helping us out. That’s the part of OB that is priceless.