Thief !!

Toby called me this afternoon to tell me that some little bastard had stolen his mobile phone while he was in gym class. Apparently he put it in his friend's bag, under the assumption that the bag was to be locked away while they were in gym (it wasn't). After class his friend came to him and said that his bag had been ransacked and that Toby's phone was gone.

I am SO pissed !

Now admittedly, he should have locked his phone in his locker or handed it to his teacher, so he is partly to blame. And in all truth, he probably shouldn't HAVE his phone at school at all, BUT, it's NOT his fault that some scumbag knowingly and willingly STOLE something that wasn't theirs ! He has his phone with him so that he can be contacted by his parents as he lives week-on week-off with each of us.

Toby was arranging to have the phone disabled, so hopefully he has done that and at least the thief won't be able to use it at all. It would be nice if it is handed in to the school, but I don't see that happening. It will probably just be tossed because it's unuseable and the whole theft therefore becomes a complete waste of time for all concerned.

I'm angry because we can't afford to just go out and replace the phone. Elliot and I saved and saved to buy Toby that phone for Christmas because some other asshole stole his wallet (containing $100) and phone from his father's house last year. (Nice company his father keeps apparently !). He had saved for that phone and bought it himself, so it was quite a blow when it disappeared along with all of his remaining savings.

I'm considering contacting the school because Toby also had a one of his new school shirts stolen last year while he was in gym - it was stolen off the clothing hook. Who do these kids think they are ?? And what of the parents who suddenly find a brand new shirt in the wash, or a 4 month old mobile phone in their child's possession ?

We are a single income family who struggles to pay the insane prices that are charged for compulsory school uniforms. We have to scrimp and save to provide luxuries for our kids. We are no better off financially than anyone else, yet we don't go and steal the things we want.

ARRRGGGGHHHH