this post was submitted on 10 May 2024
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As someone who was regularly stolen from by flatmates - get yourself a small safe, keep it out of view under your bed, and bike chain it to your bedframe so it can't be carried off. Journals, wallet, money or cards, ID, small electronics, sentimental items, prescription medication etc go in here when not in use. Keep your phone with you. If cost is a barrier you could also just get a lockbox of some kind, like a lockable toolbox. You can also get small stash containers that look like everyday items.
Also get yourself a subtle lanyard/wallet chain to keep your room key on you and lock your bedroom door when you go shower. Like, don't be obvious about it and cause tension, you don't want him to see you do these things or act weird like you're sus of him. But just don't be casual about easy access to your room or belongings until you know you can trust him. If he ever notices just keep it light and say it's out of habit.
"Haha, just a holdover from the old place. (The lockbox?) This is a high crime area, you heard about that burglary. (But if he knows about your lockbox? HMMM.) Oh that? It's habit, if I don't remember to lock up my room everytime I forget to do the main door! If I didn't have this chain/lanyard I'd lose my key! Nah, I just like taking my phone to read on the toilet/play music while I'm in the shower."
If this turns out not to be needed, great! But having some self protective strategies might help you cope better until you've sussed the new guy out.
Edit: Oh yeah and password your computer. Hit the shortcut for lock anytime you walk away from it.
And since you work. If he ever asks, you're broke. You've already spent your paycheck on rent, food, a replacement part that was desperately needed for repairs. Sorry homie. I got nothing left to lend you. Keep purchases of anything nice hidden or save it for when you're living on your own. You don't want someone racking your headphones or sneakers.
Thanks Melba, this was really useful.
Some of these were things I habitually did at the last place, so it won't take too much to start them up again. Surprisingly, theft is something I've never had to worry about anywhere I've been. Violence, sure, and I used to lock my room when I went to shower because I was worried one of them would around the corner in my room and assault me, but I didn't have to worry about keys because only workers had keys. These days I obviously do have keys to my room, and luckily I can't actually be locked out of my room (the lock only locks if I use a key or am on the other side). I also always had my phone with me in case shit hit the fan and I had to shelter in the bathroom or something, which is a habit I still have.
And the computer one I got in the habit of doing too after one of the kids at my last place messaged everyone I had in my contacts asking them if they were gay ๐ญ (actually kind of funny now, but it definitely wasn't at the time)
I have actually been considering getting a safe for a while to keep my important docs in, more so I know where they are and to give them some protection from fires or similar, but this is probably the push I need to actually get one. I hadn't considered tying it to anything, but I will take your advice and chain it up to my bed posts.
I don't really wear many nice things. My nicest/most expensive belonging is probably my PC. But I do have a good pair of nose cancelling headphones that I'm a bit too lax about leaving around. I wear them almost 24/7 (I'm really sensitive to noise) but usually take them off if I'm having a convo, just out of politeness and usually forget to put them back on
I'm not 100% sure on what I'll do with the key situation though. I have 3 keys on my keyring along with a couple of knickknacks. I could take just my bedroom key off and put it on its own thing chain, maybe tie it to my beltloops or something, but I'm not a fan of then having 2 sets of keys to carry and worry about. My keys are all solid brass (I think) and make a shit ton of noise. I would go to Bunnings and get one of those cheap key clone things they have that they do in that plastic like material, but our keys are all security keys and they are very vehemently against making copies
No problem! Man, the things you have to do when sharehousing... all of these are just suggestions in case anything works for you btw. I just wish someone had warned me.
For the headphones you can have a magazine holder sat between the monitor and the wall, and if someone knocks pop the headphones in there to keep them kind of hidden from casual view from the door before you answer. Perhaps slipped behind a single magazine so that sits in front if it needs more cover.
Not sure of your pocket situation but a key wallet might enclose your bunch of keys and deaden the noise. Also with some lanyards you can get keyrings with a clip on it, so you can remove the parts you want and clip a secondary keyring on and off your main when it's needed - or just buy one. If you need a smaller option to quiet the jingles there's this.
Safe deposit boxes in banks are a thing.
They're also not very cheap.