Prince County writer loses computer in robbery

Prince County writer loses computer in robbery

Ryan Quigley

Journal Pioneer

Marlene Campbell was walking up to her Arlington house Tuesday night after a day of work.

As the Wyatt Heritage Properties Heritage Cultural Program assistant and writer became closer to her house she noticed her garden doors to her kitchen was wide open and the frame was hanging inward. She began to feel sick.

The feeling worsened as she walked in and looked down the hall to see her front door was wide open.

Cords littered the floor of the living room as she continued walking through her house. As she looked further she discovered her daughters laptop, recently bought as a gift for her graduation from high school, and her own desktop computer, aside from the keyboard, which was left behind, were missing.

Her daughter’s jewelry was all over the floor after the thieves had rummaged her room, leaving a figurative trail of breadcrumbs out the door.

“Your home security, that feeling has been violated because that’s where you expect to feel safe,” she said. “It was just a real feeling of helplessness.”

Like many people in today’s electronic age, Campbell’s hobby and work both lived inside her computer. When that was stolen, so were the hours of life she spent working there.

“I write both for work and for my own pleasure. There are a number of pieces on there that I have lost and some of it is backed up, but the last piece I was working on isn’t backed up and it means a lot to me to have lost that piece. It’s not even the computer I want back, it’s the work,” said Campbell, her voice upset as she spoke. “I’ve done a couple of plays in the past for work and they have been produced and I was working on a new piece.”

“I was to the final editing stages of that… It really hurts, it was a lot of hours of work,” she added.

The damages done to Campbell’s house amount to about $1400, without the stolen laptop and computer, and she has been told if files a claim with the insurance company, the cost of her insurance will increase 20 per cent in the next three years.

Her piece she had been working on wasn’t backed up because she felt like it couldn’t happen to her.

“I thought we were doing pretty well everything right when it came to home security, you know, like locking the doors, not leaving your outside lights on, leaving your radio playing, all that kind of stuff,” she said. “I definitely will back up all future work I will do.”

She said if she could talk to those who are responsible, she knows what she would say.

“It may appear that you have just taken an object and it’s only an object. But in fact your actions have consequences.”

Campbell would like to have the computers back, but really only wants the work. The laptop is worn silver HP model with the serial number, 886111318209. The desktop computer has a black LG model monitor and is custom made by Sites & Bytes Computers. Anyone with information on the computers should contact the RCMP.