Cannibals!!!

They're known as Creepers. Or Midnight Creepers. Or Tweakers.

Typically, these are drug addicts - meth (speed) or crack (cocaine) or whatever. They often stay up all night. And run or bicycle around a lot. These outings include forays along their routes checking on trashcans and dumpsters, to salvage what may be found. But also to check for chances for thefts.

Unfortunately, some of the easiest targets are -- homeless folks. Especially in the urban areas where people are sleeping outdoors. After all, here a person is wrapping up in a sleeping bag, usually with their head covered too against the cold, damp night air. And unconscious. All their belongings are right there, even bundled up in packs and such.

Despicably, often these Creepers are among homeless persons, too. Cannibalizing their own. The lowest of the low. Vermin!

They even go to quite some lengths to "case" someone, by watching them over time - noting details about if and when they're alone, what they own and carry around, where and when they sleep, etc.

Just so, last week my backpack was stolen while I slept. And, inside it, was my computer, my digital camera, my ID, my glasses, and other important or essential documents, legal materials, cash on hand. etc. The computer alone contained a LOT of unique info and a year's worth of work... journaling this entire experience, logging of key events/details, a great deal of collected information and resources, research, etc. for several important - even crucial - projects I've worked hard on. I even lost a small ivory carving I've had with me since boyhood, a last remaining memento.

I'd been using the backpack as my "pillow" while I slept, along with a stuffsack for my sleeping bag, which I'd stuff my coat and whatnot in too, since it's softer. Then I'd clip the pack to the stuffsack, as well, since the two items may separate a bit through the night.

I'm not really such a sound sleeper that I'll sleep through just anything. But, at the same time, sleeping outdoors and on streets or sidewalks one must accustom to sleeping through a lot more noise and sounds than in probably most other situations.

I'd just felt (apparently, mistakenly) sure that I'd taken reasonable measures to secure my valuables like that, assuming I'd be awakened "if" anyone tried to take it. In hindsight, all I can figure is that they must've moved very, very slowly and quietly. Once they felt the tether, they must've just as slowly and carefully followed it to the clip and gingerly unfastened it. And once they'd managed to patiently and quietly ease it away from my head, then they took off with the goods. I just can't imagine any other way.

Also in hindsight, I may actually be lucky that I didn't awaken, as there are no shortage of stories of people that have gotten bootkicked in the face and/or clubbed over the head with a length of plumbing pipe, too. So I may be "lucky" that they "only" got so much from me, without my being seriously physically harmed as well.

This loss is a most grave matter. I've now lost my main source of income -- as I'd been selling items by taking digital pics and posting on the internet for sale, using a lot of email for arrangements, etc. And my legal work... my ONLY shot at both getting some justice for what's been done to me resulting in my being here like this at all, as well as possibly recovering at least some of all the earnings and losses I've been cheated out of... is now almost all gone. Or would have to mostly be done all over again. Somehow.

What's more, my remaining possessions are almost all in the storage unit I've managed to keep until now, paying rent for that while forgoing so much else, but has been largely reliant upon using that gear and method to do so. Now ALL I have is at serious, imminent risk too.

And a number of friends and acquaintances who have had less than I, and so have been similarly benefiting or reliant upon the use of my equipment and my skills with it, are now similarly deprived.

I don't know what to do. Or if there's really anything that I can do.

[This Blog Entry is being done on a borrowed computer. This very Blog may not be able to be continued as I'd planned, either.]