"My name's Deb and I'm a postaholic".

There, now we've got that squared away.

I just composed a big long post and then deleted it. I should be deleted. Anyhow, it was too long so that's my sign to condense things.

Some time ago a thief/crackhead spirited entrepreneur was spotted by my neighbour, rummaging around by my back door. "C" knew that this guy didn't belong here so he approached him and asked what he was doing. At which point the guy pushed past him, jumped on his bikemobile and left (he had one of those baby carriers on the back of his bike - it's common here with the crackheads). C knocked on my door and told me about the guy and I sprang into action. Idiot. I hopped in my car and tracked the dude down. I had him lined up, right in front of me as he pedalled his ass down the road with our stuff (mostly bottles). He veered right in front of the car to cross the street to the park and I seriously considered ramming his cart. Seriously...I almost did, but I managed to restrain myself. I blasted the horn and scared the shit out of him, to which he gave the finger. I then rolled down the window and yelled "stay the fuck out of our carports". Did I ever tell you how stupid I am? Dumb, dumb and dumber. So now he knows me/my car. And where I live. I am such an idiot. Here's what happened the last time I opened my big mouth in a road rage incident (I'll tell that story one day - nice broken nose for me).

He then entered the park and I zipped around to head him off at the other side. Which I did. He "waved" at me again and I pulled into the community police station that was situated right on the park. I went in to report him and, well, they don't care. They don't have time. The donuts won't wait. I do understand that this is petty stuff and they have bigger fish to fry. But this cop was right there, doing nothing and he could've got the guy with stolen property if he'd just swaggered outside. Nope. No go. He did say "we know who the guy is". Comforting. So I assumed this meant he could be back - that he was a "regular". Now please, understand, this isn't about the stuff that this guy's taking...no, no, no. It's the mama bear protecting the den - my daughter's often here alone while I'm at work. And I really don't want her to run into this guy if she's heading out the back door sometime. So my motives are purely protective and it's more about feeling violated than anything else.

And he has been back, with reinforcments it seems. They work shifts, those eager beavers. We figure there are three of them - one moron on council said "oh yeah, I've seen them", to which I questioned what he did about it. "Well nothing" (I stuck my finger in my nose could probably complete that). I suggested that perhaps, as someone on council, he "get more involved" and address these guys who are trespassing (we do have signs posted). Or do something. But, he's a chickenshit so he watches them. Three different units have had bikes stolen - and we're not just leaving stuff lying around**. We're talking locked up in the rafters with chains and they bring cutters. They've recently taken to smashing car windows to break into them. There's nothing in them at times, but they still break in and have a look. Ha, the first one they broke in to belongs to a Vancouver cop who lives here (they will put down the donut and kick your ass if necessary. Or even when not.) Now he's on the lookout. Good choice guys.

(**So I decided to play the game...I put crap out that would normally go to the dump. I put a nice looking little TV out there (that shuts on and off) - no dice though...they didn't take the bait. I figured if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. This made that council member mad - "don't encourage them". And he had a point so I've stopped. My thinking was that they come anyhow, whether there's stuff out there or not...may as well make their "visits" useful? They haven't returned to my unit. I think they think I'm crazy.)

I'm not really worried about the stuff - that's not the issue for me. I don't want these guys poking around here with all the kids who live in here - what if they encounter them? I knew I should've run the guy down, damn it. Blew that one.

(condensed??)