I'm standing in the kitchen of the Raley family with the team that has just driven up to Pietersburg from the coast (Port Elizabeth). Enjoying a steaming cup of coffee on the chilly winter night, my pocket suddenly vibrates. I pull my phone from my coat pocket: ONE NEW MESSAGE. I press the view button. In bold type the SMS (txt mssg) says one word: BURGLARY. (The house I'd been watching sends an SMS to several people if the house alarm goes off). My mouth emits one sentence: "Gabriel's house has been broken into", and I made a speedy b-line for the door. My friend Nathan (who is also on the SMS system) yells, "you want me to come with?". Angrily thinking of my possessions sitting in the house several K's down the road being stolen, I reply "whatever!".
I hit nearly 140 Km/H on the way- down the freeway, down several dusty back roads, and finally down the long road in the veld (bush) to Gabriel and Nikki Pretoria's house. I pulled up to the outer gate- protected by a lock and 9000V of electricity pulsating through the wires attached to it. I could see the back gate to the house had been forced open. I speedily unlock the gate and run to the back entrance to the house. It's dark inside. I almost proceed inside, but then remember that an ambush could mean a quick death, a debilitating injury, or a mortal wound. I run around the side of the house and grab a wooden stick- my weapon of choice. I slowly peer around the corners as I enter the house. The alarm sounds. I start turning on lights. There's absolutely nothing missing. Praise God
By the time I get outside to find out where the would-be thieves cut into the wire, Nathan has arrived. We examine the fence and find where they cut in, and also the windows they broke checking to see if anyone was home. Several other arrive after a little time to start the repairs. We clean up the broken glass, replace a lock, and rewire the fence. After some time, they leave, and I'm left alone. It's late. I take a shower, drink some coke. I turn ON the lights, and go to bed. The dogs bark all night. Eish.
Excitement. In South Africa.
