Later, as I was getting ready inside, I heard Kenneth outside speaking with my day guard, Peter, and slamming my car doors. I couldn't understand how the car was unlocked- had I given him a spare car key? So when I went outside and found the thieves had actually broken into the car and stolen: power window components, a/c unit and vents, stereo, side mirrors and even "front corner" mirror for backing up, plus whatever I had in the glove box, etc.... well, I was surprised.
The thieves had come over the wall at two places- in one way and out the other. We all agree it had to be at least 3 people, and the bad part that my guard was sleeping may have saved his life. A quarry up the hill had a break-in in January and when that guard found them, they killed him. So although this was a lot of money (potentially) in theft, I am insured and we are SAFE. Praise the LORD for His hedge of protection!
A "comic relief" moment was when we found my mop handle in the car. The men thought I'd put it there. No. And neither had they. But my huge rubber cobra was found in the neighbor's compound (they'd, by then, thrown it back over the wall)... so we pictured the thieves gaining access to the inside of my car only to find Sammy the Snake (my daytime security system which has caused a lot of laughter and frights). So they went back behind the house to the covered porch area, where the mop was. They took of the fluffy end and used the stick to "kill" Sammy and toss him out. I'm sure in the dark he was scary because in the light he has even made me pause from time to time. But those thieves were determined, so they killed my rubber snake and dispensed of him.
Here is Sammy on the hood, and the broom handle against the car. Note no side mirrors...
How the car looked on the inside when we opened it up...
When the police came, they dusted for prints (found a few, but rain had washed a lot away). This was, thankfully, the first time I've EVER seen in person a policeman dusting for fingerprints. Oh, and this photo is of the front little mirror area which is on a Prado- so the driver can see that bumper and corners.
Because of other delays elsewhere, the policeman who takes people's statements couldn't come today. So he'll come sometime tomorrow to take our statements. Since Uganda has no fingerprint database yet, the only hope of catching the thieves is if they are arrested and the fingerprints match. But for insurance we did have to follow all these steps. So in the next few weeks I'll be getting a new stereo and better locking system, plus of course replacing all the missing car-parts... Pray they can be easily found and that the paint matches. And I'd really like the mirrors to be the same type as before- where I can move them electronically from inside. That has been a helpful feature at times here when I'm driving alone and can't have someone help me adjust them.