A burglary is often described as being a violation. And it's a good word for it because it's not just about what is physically taken, it's about what is emotionally done to the person being robbed. I had suffered no physical assault, but when I sat down to describe what I could to the police over a strong cup of tea, I felt as though I'd been beaten up.The upset wasn't to do with the things that had been stolen - most of that is replaceable and insured, it wasn't the ransacking of personal property, or the time-consuming pain of having to fill out claim forms. It was more the unsettling questions that the burglary had stirred up: What if they'd been armed? What if they come back? Why did this happen?There was a fear that lingered long after the thieves have fled. Even when writing this on the laptop that wasn't stolen I was more conscious of noises coming from the street, suspicious of a person walking a little too slowly up my road. I even bolted the door. I can get all the super-duper alarm systems I like, but will they take away my fear? I'm angry at those thieves for taking my things but I'll be more annoyed if they rob me of my peace.
入室行窃经常被形容为一种暴行，这个词用的很准确，因为这不仅仅意味着物质损失，还包含了被窃者精神上的创伤。我身体没受伤害，但是，当我喝着浓茶，尽我所能向警察描述事件经过时，我觉得自己仿佛被胖揍了一顿。这种不安跟跟掠夺无关，跟被偷掉多少东西无关，这些东西都有替代品，也都上了保险，在这里花时间填单子报案也没关系。重要的是这次行窃引起的不安揣测：万一他们有武器会怎样？万一他们又回头了怎么办？为什么会发生这种事？窃贼走后很长一段时间内，我都有种恐惧感。即便是在这台没被偷走的笔记本上写这篇文章的时候，我对外面大街上传来的任何响动都如履薄冰，跟我一条路的人走得稍微慢点，我就会对他疑神疑鬼，我还栓上了大门。我可以把所有高级报警系统装个遍，但这就能消除我的恐惧感了？我是恨那些窃贼偷了我的东西，但我更恨他们抢走了我内心的平静。
