An open letter to a trio of thieves

Case Study II

Ex.5.16. Fill the gaps with words from the previous exercise.

1) There’ll be a ______________ (=People will be very angry) if the government doesn’t invest more in this service.

2) The ______________ of regular smokers increases sharply with age.

3) Safety is our _____________.

4) The felon was sentenced to life _______________ for murder.

5) Who’s going to ___________ _____ __________ for all the repairs?

6) The police succeeded in quelling the _____________.

7) He’s on _____________ (=in prison waiting for a trial).

8) Foreign _____________ were asked to leave the country.

9) A higher ____________ of Americans go on to higher education than is the case in Britain.

10) He’s a French _____________ working in Italy.

11) Let constant vigilance be your _______________.

12) _____________ broke out in several areas.

This is an open letter to the three people who stole my handbag from the Highgate boutique where I am employed as a sales assistant. When you took my bag I don't know what you thought you were going to get. With my wages, there's not much left on a Tuesday. I hope the £5 was useful to you. I have informed the social security office so you won't be able to cash the child benefit next week. I hope that won't leave you too short, but if you really need a couple of pounds, I suppose you could always cash one of the two cheques left in my cheque book. Of course, I phoned the bank right away and the cheque-cashing card is no longer valid, so it won't be much use to you.

Actually I don't mind about the money too much. We single parents who work to support our families understand only too well what it means to be short of cash. However, I don't sup­pose it went very far between three of you. Sorry about that. I wish you had left the bag behind and just taken the wallet and cheque book. There were all kinds of papers in it, and notes and things that I really need. I really think that was very incon­siderate of you. I mean, how would you like something like that to happen to you? Well, perhaps the bag will turn up. It wasn't even an expensive one, just a plain, old brown leather shoulder bag. You probably dumped it in the nearest rubbish bin or threw it

over the park railings into the bushes. We've looked around, of course, but no ­one saw which way you went after you left the shop. I'm not really angry with you. I know how the pres­sures of modern living can affect one, but I am sad and distressed at the loss of my personal things. I feel violated and helpless, and al­though the police were very nice, they just shrugged their shoulders. 'It happens all the time,' they told me. Some small comfort, I suppose. But I've lost just a little more faith in human nature. And as my young son said when I told him what had happened, `Why, Mummy, why us?' I couldn't answer that question. I wonder if you can? Louise B. Raphael, Southwood Avenue, Highgate, N6.

1. Complete the following information:

Article stolen:

Description:

Contents:

Where stolen:

Owner:

Job:

2. What items in the handbag did Ms Raphael consider more important to her than her money? Look through your own handbag or wallet. List in two columns what are valuable items, and what are important but not valuable items.

3. Which three of your personal possessions would you be most sad or distressed at losing?

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