How a break & enter reminded Steve how great the Sault is

SooToday.com has received the following letter from loyal reader and former Sault Steeler Steve Roberts who was the victim of a break and enter on Friday.

After taking a couple of days to compose myself and take stock of what happened, I must say that this past Friday, June 7 was one of the worst days of my life.

I was the victim of a mid-morning break and enter.

I am not going to go into detail about how this has affected me or my neighborhood because there is no sense in dwelling on something I am trying to put behind me.

However, what I would like to go into detail about how so many came to my aid in such a short period of time.

So here it goes.

After scheduling the generic 2 to 4 p.m. appointment with a local cable company for repair work, you can imagine my excitement when they called back and wanted to do the work earlier.

Upon arrival at my home at around 11:30 a.m., I noticed that something was not right.

My closet and pantry doors were open.

This is fairly uncommon because I always close everything and my roommate, who lives in the basement, is always courteous in this regard.

I began to walk around my home and noticed that everything was upside down and that all of my jewelry (which is not extensive but valuable to me) was missing.

After going into the basement bedroom I observed that all of his Jewelry and electronics were missing as well.

(As a side note: I am not nor is my roommate avid jewelry collectors. We were members of the three time Sault Steelers national championship teams. So you can understand my frustrations after noticing these Items, among many others were missing.)

Once I had combed the block, called the police and brought my blood pressure down to 120 BPM, I was able to call my roommate to give him the bad news.

I should mention that, at this point, the cable company representative was extremely helpful.

In fact he jumped in his van and took a drive around the area, which was much appreciated and brings new meaning to the term “customer satisfaction”.

Within minutes he called and informed me of a suspicious vehicle around the corner.

Without hesitation I jumped in my vehicle and sped off like the driver I was taught and leaving my neighbor on sentry duty until the police arrived.

After arriving at the “suspicious vehicle” I frantically got out and made my way to the rear of the truck, in what I can only imagine resembled a scene from the Terminator.

I wasn’t able to speak to the driver as he/she drove off.

Thinking this was the perpetrators I jumped back in my vehicle and followed a small distance until I was able to convey to the police that this vehicle may or may not be involved in the break in.

Once the day subsided I was told that the persons in the vehicle had nothing to do with the break and enter.

So, to the pick up truck with the barbecue in the back, I am extremely sorry for scaring you, involving you in a high speed chase and in general ruining your day.

Composure in a time like that is hard to keep.

Please accept my apologies.

Moving on, it was at this point in time where I get an over anxious call from my roommate who was on his way home after receiving the bad news from me.

He said that he was heading down Third Line and observed two males walking toward Great Northern Road.

He didn’t think much of it until he looked in his rear view mirror and observed that one of the men was wearing his back pack.

Thinking he’s a crime fighter, he pulls a 180 in his vehicle and confronts both males as to where they found the back pack.

Without hesitation, the two men begin running with all of our possessions in tow.

Never passing up an opportunity for a run, my roommate, wearing sandals, begins to give chase.

I should mention that he is a former receiver and can still run like a gazelle.

Myself on the other hand am built for comfort not speed, which needless to say I am glad it was him doing the running and not me.

I’m digressing.

He chased them down into a large ditch off of Third Line and was able to get the man with his back pack while the other man fled into the surrounding bush with another bag of items.

My roommate was able to get him back up onto the road, where several people offered help just as the police were arriving.

I arrived about 20 seconds later as the police were putting the thief in handcuffs.

I cannot really articulate the feelings I was going through after being 10 feet away from the man who had violated my home but the term 'extreme rage' is probably the best term to describe it.

It was at this point in the game where the police had set a dragnet up from Third Line to Terrance Avenue, thinking he would pop out in that vicinity.

There were officers combing the bush for any kind of a trace of the violator.

My roommate and I were told to go back home and wait for an officer to show up to take our statement.

We relinquished our duties and headed home.

(What you have just read took place inside of seven minutes).

As promised, an officer showed up and we began filling out paper work all the while praying that they found the other man with the rest of the items that were still missing.

Both the Interviewing Officer and Ident Officer (fancy word for CSI) were extremely courteous and professional.

They were able to reassure and calm an already raging home owner.

I was on pins and needles waiting to hear of any kind of progress.

The police had left with our statements but were still in full search mode.

They had put out word to local transportation companies to notify of suspicious people in the area.

Low an behold, a taxi driver had said that a man was picked up in the same area that fit the description.

Within 45 minutes the man was in custody and it was the same man who was in my home.

I was relieved, however, I was still missing most of the items that were taken from me.

I was told that after the arrest the man indicated where he had left the bag of items.

For this, I am grateful.

These items were irreplaceable.

After a few hours I was able to reclaim my property with relief.

All things considered, it was the best end to a day that I have ever had.

Appreciation and a round of thanks are in order.

Thank you to the shear footed roommate.

Thank you to the neighbour who stood guard.

Thank you to the motorists who were offering help.

Thank you to the Taxi driver who reported in.

Thank you to the Sault Ste. Marie Police Services who carried out their duties with poise and professionalism.

Not every crime has an outcome like this, I realize I am extremely lucky.

I will be forever grateful.

Thank you to the cable representative who was early.

If you weren’t proficient at your job I would not have been alerted to the break-in.

Last but not least, thank you to the two men who broke into my home.

You made me realize that in times of need and in a feeling of complete violation and helplessness, people all around are willing to aid and put themselves out there.

Its these same kind of people that make this city a great place to live.

Thank you.