Introduction

| |- For few people that have been my friends for a while on Steemit, this post isn’t new to them. I participated in this contest because the questions been asked in the contest gave me an opportunity of giving more specifics that I never shared before.

I know you will be interested to know exactly what happened but before going ahead, let me invite some friends to participate in the challenge; @ogechukwu-martha, @chiomi and @johnmitchel.

Tell us about an experience where you faced theft, robbery, or loss.

| |- ![97C64951-FFEE-4210-9EAF-1BDAE1A432EF.jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmRToS5TfwUCpJFFimGdCiiAj1qcvgCpiZr1DdbzfTLRd2/97C64951-FFEE-4210-9EAF-1BDAE1A432EF.jpeg) [source](https://pixabay.com/photos/thief-burglary-break-into-1562699/) In my own case, it was robbery. The guy in question was my childhood friend that I’ve not seen for close to 10 years. I was really angry that I loosed my guard down, forgetting the fact that as we grow, we’re exposed to different lifestyle that changes us.

Well, is all in the past now and I’ve moved on a long time ago… but speaking about moving on, if i am to see this guy in front of me, what will be my reaction??? That’s something I can’t actually tell…

How did it happen?

| |- I was on my way back from church, when I met my friend that I’ve not seen for a very long time. I was so happy to see him. I invited him to my house since it was close to the place our path crossed, so we could catch up on old times for awhile. I introduced him to my neighbors that was around.

![9823DAD7-ABC2-4729-878C-B41C5DA4130E.jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNfUBr4eYDDx45B9zfCj6QKHG3KnVW4Y8kPDNF6aRghLL/9823DAD7-ABC2-4729-878C-B41C5DA4130E.jpeg) [source](https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/european-african-man-smiling-showing-thumb-each-other_6449368.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=0&uuid=02c2149b-ab2a-4aac-97c1-820e7fff6da4) I decided to take him to another mutual friend of ours that lives around the neighborhood with his family but unfortunately, the guy wasn’t around. Sometimes, I thank God we didn’t see the guy at home because who knows what he would’ve done if he had successfully entered the house.

On our way back to the house, he borrowed my phone to make a call. So, during his conversation with the lady he was talking to, I overheard his conversation telling the lady that he was very hungry and she should be expecting him soon at her house.

After the call, I asked him to stay over and eat before leaving. That I’m also hungry as well. He should give me little time to prepare something for both of us to eat. While I was cooking in the kitchen, I moved him from the sitting room to my bedroom, so he could relax comfortably.

I was busy in the kitchen, when he called my attention that I should please give him my phone again, to tell his girlfriend not to bother cooking, that he’s eating at his friends place. I wasn’t suspecting anything, I just gave him the phone.

When I was done cooking, I brought the food to the room, so we could eat together but he was nowhere to be found. I went downstairs to ask my neighbors if they have seen my friend. One of them said they saw him entering a taxi.

I went back to my room, so I could get my phone to inform him about the food, thinking he dropped it off for me in the room. I couldn’t find it. It was during my search for my phone, I noticed my laptop charger was still connected to the socket but without a laptop in site. That was when I raised alarm but it was already too late. I didn’t even have a phone to make a fast call because the few numbers i could call to trap him before he goes into hiding was in my phone.

Was what you lost valuable?

| |- ![85335E85-3C45-4F1C-8D4B-548579AAEE11.jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmcS6NqtfREq3o9w2ZndWZAXDgDTqpD6PqBLCXgvNWx83h/85335E85-3C45-4F1C-8D4B-548579AAEE11.jpeg) [source](https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/high-angle-view-laptop-mobile-phone-wooden-desk_3328932.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=0&uuid=32632d3e-2f6e-44af-a772-c64f14fc1dd8) Yes. It was very valuable to me. My Tecno phone and my HP laptop. It was the laptop that really meant so much to me because I had just gotten it with Steemit money. I was lucky to be on Steemit during the days when one SBD was worth 11-12$.

Rather than using my money recklessly, I decided to buy something that I will always used to remember steemit and that was why I opted to buy a laptop. Unfortunately, evil people didn’t let it last long with me.

Difficult to recover?

| |- I never recovered it. I borrowed a phone from one of my neighbor to call my cousin in the village to tell him what had happened, so he could be on the lookout for me. That was when I was told that I should forget about it. That the reason I know longer see him in the village each time I visit is because he has been disgrace and chased away because of stealing.

I didn’t still give up, I went with some of my friends to possible outlets that he is likely to sell the stuff, hoping I’ll get him but he didn’t turn up. Since that period till now, I’ve never set my eyes on him again. That was how I lost my gadgets.

What measures did you take to avoid it happening again ?

| |- ![5470920B-271D-4C36-A4DA-68A9F175E8BB.jpeg](https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmaD3FiA78hnz49qnvEMybvxAxUhWGuJEPoKLzF4w8MdTe/5470920B-271D-4C36-A4DA-68A9F175E8BB.jpeg) [source](https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/close-up-man-preparing-steal-motorcycle_19333018.htm#fromView=search&page=1&position=2&uuid=bdfb31db-f915-4d33-a019-e6ecfc0b1aa3) * Measures I took was not to ever keep my valuables in plain sight. * No matter how close we are, everything will end in the sitting room. I don’t allow anyone in my bedroom again except you’re my girlfriend…😊😊 * Before now, i use to hide the key to my house under my doormat but since that incident happened, I carry it everywhere I go. * To an extent, it made me limit the kind of friends that comes to my house.

Do you think it could have been avoided?

| |- Yeah.. it would have been avoidable! If only I’ve gone straight to my house immediately after church and not chasing after this pretty lady I met that day. Maybe, our path would have never crossed and my laptop and phone would have still been in tact. But now, I’ve repented!! 😊😊