On an October morning, people passing one of the houses in Iwiny witnessed an unusual scene. The homeowner, shouting profanities, yelled at his dogs. The people did not see the animals’ reaction, but after hearing the homeowner’s tirade, they agreed that the dogs deserved a reprimand this time. The homeowner ended his speech with a forceful curse and added bitterly: “Why do I keep you if you let a thief in?”
Lawnmowers, a garden tractor, a car trailer and tools disappeared from several properties. A construction site was also robbed—a house in its shell state—where the guard dog was put to sleep with some kind of substance and did not leave its kennel for two days. When it regained consciousness, the anger of the robbed owner had largely subsided. All that remained were the losses and a healthy dog with a ruined reputation.
The police confirm reports of thefts in Iwiny. Acting police spokesperson Piotr Błaszkiewicz says there were four reports, while our informant mentions six victims. It is possible that not all those affected decided to report their losses to the police.
An insurance agent points out that insurance can minimize such losses. “Movable property insurance also covers equipment kept in outbuildings and garages,” says Andrzej Izdebski. “There are two basic conditions for obtaining such insurance. First, the garage or outbuilding must have sturdy doors secured with a lock or padlock, not ones that would give way to a powerful kick. Second, the theft must be reported to the police,” he adds.
Andrzej Izdebski knows of a case in which an insurer reimbursed a client for stolen homemade preserves. The woman calculated the value of her work, the cost of the products and the gas used, and compensation was paid on that basis.
For some time, the residents of Iwiny have been afraid for their properties and have been passing on information about thieves operating in the area. After the first wave of thefts, things are quiet. The thief either got what they wanted or moved to another area. One thing is certain: it is better to insure equipment properly and then lock it up even more securely. Based on the experiences of the homeowners in Iwiny, there is probably little point relying on dogs.
(information: Grażyna Hanaf)