My husband went to the studio yesterday morning to do some work on it. He walked into a disaster. During the night, someone had broken in and made a general mess of everything. He called the police in our town, reported the B&E, and then sent me a text to call him when I got a break. I called. He said, “Hey, Babe, everything is fine, but someone broke in the studio last night.” What??? I’m supposed to carry on for the rest of my workday, knowing this? How?
Now, my mother didn’t raise a fool. I don’t leave anything of value at the studio. I don’t have a safe to lock up my things, so I carry it all back and forth. Camera, lenses, money. It goes in and out with me. Every time. “My lights? My backdrops?” I asked. “They are all fine.” Whew! Thank goodness.
Rick went on to inform me that the police need a detailed list of what was missing. So after an incredibly long day at school, I headed to the studio. Rick, bless his heart, had cleaned up everything and put it all back where it belonged. So I didn’t experience the shock he did. I started to look around. The shoot room looked fine. The office looked fine. The kitchenette looked fine. Then I got to the storage closet and the restrooms.
Wait a minute! You have to be kidding me! My toilet paper is missing. My paper towels are gone. My window cleaner is gone, but the furniture polish is there. Why? Why would someone break into a business and steal … cleaning supplies? How stupid can a person be? And then I realized that my makeup bag was gone. My Lancome bag, filled with Lancome eye shadows and Lancome blush and Lancome powder and Lancome mascara. That just made me mad. Oh, and my toothbrush. Someone stole my toothbrush??? Really?
Our town’s finest went right to work. They deserve a major round of applause or a pat on the back. Or a chocolate ice cream cone. I was amazed to receive a personal visit from the police a few hours later. They had identified the thieves. They are now building the case. It turns out that my studio was one of several B&Es committed in the last few weeks. The irony of it? Because Lancome makeup is expensive stuff, the robbery qualified as a felony offense. The ring leader will do prison time…all to steal cleaning supplies. Wow! I really hope the ring leader’s girlfriend gets gangrene or something when she wears my makeup.
My studio is fine. My lights are fine. My backdrops and props are fine. I have to go shopping for cleaning supplies, but that is all right. But I really am going to miss my Lancome makeup.
