I was involved in more unpleasant business this past week than I care to think about much less blog about. But as the week comes to a close it is still good to look back and learn; we should gain something from the pain life is prone to dispense from time to time.

The only rough spots I will share with you (and there were many more, believe me) were the two break-ins we had to deal with this week. They occurred on different nights and in locations several states apart. Neither were completely preventable but in both cases the losses could have been mitigated if it were not for some unfortunate circumstances (i.e. – a laptop left in one office when it usually goes home and trouble with an alarm system that should have been repaired).

Worst of all, in this very blog last October, I warned of these events ( www.roofingcontractor.com/Articles/Blog_Rick/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000448956 ). The fact is the unemployment rate has grown considerably since then and the number of folks out to steal our stuff has grown. So this is a good time (and believe me, I will be all over this next week) to review all of your security systems and procedures.

The worst part of these incidents is not the impact of the dollar losses but the human toll. Our folks (includes me even though the incidents did not occur at my base of operations) all feel violated. Some of their personal items were taken or destroyed. Their workspaces have been trashed by strangers. In one location there was a complete loss of innocence since in many years of operation this has never happened. Thank God this did not happen during normal business hours, which does happen. The first wholesale building supply branch I managed had been held up by armed bandits the year prior to my arrival.

So as to not sound all bummed out and negative, I must say our business is doing very well and in spite of some setbacks this one week we will prevail and enjoy a fine summer season of roofing and re-roofing. As this is being written my lovely bride is off cruising with one of my sisters and the lovely Angie (read about her here - www.roofingcontractor.com/Articles/Column/9874c8b1b2c58010VgnVCM100000f932a8c0____ ). They are recharging their batteries and I am having some “me time” to catch up on some reading and relaxing.
 

Life really is good and I feel sorry for individuals so desperate and depraved as to break in and steal from others. I would say of the perpetrators (in anger) there is a special place in hell for them when they die but I suspect they have already arrived.