The endless stream of night visitors

I'm not sure what someone would do if they got an endless stream of night visitors. It seems like someone comes every night or several people come some nights. Last night I laid down and tried to sleep, we had one window glass open so the cool breeze could come through but I bolted upright when I heard a metal object hit the pavement. I went to the open window to investigate and heard footsteps hurry away. So, we slept in a hot stuffy room last night.

So, we don't sleep with the windows open much. Even though it has bars, it is too easy for someone to cut through the screens and work a desired object towards the window and then out.

When I say theft is bad here, it is pretty bad. The car doors have been hanging open in the morning at least 5 times in the last month. Our house was broken into and electronics stolen. We have since bought one padlock and have been using kitchen utensils to secure the other 2-3 spaces on the metal doors which one would also place a padlock. Three spots on a door to place 3 padlocks. Seems excessive but usually there is a provision for the thing that is necessary. Most people have curtains. Our curtains are at least 20 years old and they aren't the right size to cover the windows.

This morning I got up and saw someone had opened the back door key hole door in order to reach inside and test the locks.

A number of people I've met who have had some small encounters with Ugandans have at times talked about the theft problem. They sort of excuse these people, wave their hands and say, "Oh but they are so poor, that is why they steal."

I watched that theory out for a while. Certainly, there are many poor peasants who don't own their own land and they steal their neighbors fruit or matoke. However, the most serious robberies are performed by those who have purchased weapons. This is not a poor suffering individual. Additionally, the neighbor who likely stole our electronics has a very nice car, beautiful curtains which cover every corner of every window in his and his mother's home. Light bulbs in every outdoor socket which burn all night. (Most people with limited funds do not do this because of the energy costs.) They cook indoors which means they likely have a gas stove, while everyone else cooks outside on the charcoal bucket.

This is one among many instances. And I have come to dis-believe the theory that it is the poor who steal. It is actually the educated and the well off who make theft into a career. What would a poor illiterate person do with a laptop? If a poor person actually stole a laptop, it would only be through a knowledgeable handler. In that case, who is the one who is really stealing?

Every day multiple times a day, someone tries to steal something from me. I look at tracking devices int he states which help you "find your misplaced items" and I laugh. Here these would sell like hotcakes.