[AllyOops!]

I'm so, so sorry about your car being ransacked, Snowflake! I'm so happy & relieved, though, that nothing of yours was missing!

My scariest encounter with a thieving scuzzhound was in my really early twenties. I was home one morning, curled up on the couch, and somebody knocked on my door. It was still so early, so I didn't answer. The next thing I heard from across the house was somebody breaking through the window and crawling into the house. I was inside with an intruder. I picked up my telephone, dialed 911, and whispered to the operator that I wasn't alone in my house (I didn't want him to hear me). Fortunately, my boyfriend at the time had stopped by, and without thinking he tore through my house, confronted the jackhole and chased him through the house. He exited out of the french doors in the back. The LAPD arrived immediately and searched the neighborhood, but never found him.

Sigh. Such scumbaggery out there.

My advice is to never confront somebody who is potentially armed and dangerous. My friends & family have a history (including myself) of reacting without thinking and confronting the suspect. THANK GOD we've all been lucky!!