On a Thursday evening in Milwaukee, my daddy and I decided to go get some ice cream.
He picked me up in his truck and we rode to our favorite ice cream spot, Culver’s. As we were waiting in the drive-thru, I got a call from an unfamiliar number.
To my surprise, Officer Miller from the Tallahassee Police Department was on the other end.
He informed me that my apartment had been broken in to. Shocked, I quickly asked what was missing. I asked about my television, DVD’s and DVD player. He said they were all gone.
My stomach dropped. In the back of my mind, I asked myself “why me.” Then I realized who had been in my house last-my roommates. Coincidently, they were out of town when the break-in happened.
What hurt me most was when the officer said they probably wouldn’t catch the people who robbed me. He actually told me to “charge it to the game.”
“Charge it to the game?” How can a student who lost everything just “charge it to the game,” if they barely had anything to start playing with?
Tying up loose ends, I checked my credit card accounts to make sure everything was in order.
But after logging into my bank account I made a startling discovery. My savings account had been cleaned out. Fourteen hundred dollars was missing. I had exactly $23 left in my account. I found out someone impersonating me withdrew the money. Once again, I couldn’t help but ask, “why me?”
I know there are other students out there with stories like mine.
Students who thought their belongings were in trustworthy hands, and ended up losing everything.
This has to stop.
Students work hard for the things they have.
What makes someone think they have the right to take other people’s things?
When I went to fill out a police report for these incidents, I couldn’t help but ask the officer how many burglary cases he sees every semester.
He gave me an incredulous look and simply said “a lot.” The officer told me there are so many student burglary cases that many of them remain unsolved.
He also told me roommates can often be the culprits and about individuals who prey on students.
These situations confirm that it’s a cold world for college students.
I know I could’ve put my things in storage, but I felt my things were safe where I lay my head, but I guess not. I’ve learned so much from these experiences.
Trust no one but yourself. Safeguard your belongings and spend the extra money to keep them safe.
I wish I did.
Fortunately for me, I have insurance. So it’s only a matter of time before I’m back on my feet. For those who don’t have insurance, get it.
Students who have been robbed, I understand your frustration and for anyone who’s into robbing, what goes around comes around.
Corbin Robinson is senior magazine production student from Milwaukee, Wis. She can be reached at famuanopinions@gmail.com.