[Photos] Laundry Ruined? Billings Thieves Broke in My Laundry Room

On a day where we should be thankful for our family, food, and what life has gifted us... The Grinch himself greeted me. Instead of a peaceful day of relaxation (as I generally don't celebrate Thanksgiving) I found the laundry room in my complex was broken into!

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Kicked In

After realizing the door to the laundry room was giving me issues with my key, I assumed someone had left it unlocked, and turned the handle. Once inside, I noticed the entire innards of the locking mechanism were gone... and the door cracked.

Drill, Baby, Drill

Once I took a photo of the door, I called up our rental company to let them know what had happened. It had to have occurred in the last week, as they just were by to empty them in the past few days. While talking, I realized metal shavings were coating the machines... and that every... single... coin slide had its lock drilled through.

Now, maybe in a laundromat, you would find a couple of hundred bucks worth of change. In the one here? They would be LUCKY to have gotten away with $10 TOTAL. Idiots.

Anyhow, after taking more photos, and sending them off to the rental company, I did start doing my laundry... but the issue here remains...

If they are bold enough to drill through metal locks in a room attached to the entire complex, what is stopping them from breaking into our apartments?

I know my solution to this is quite simple. Security cameras and the fact I'm rarely away from home these days for more than a few hours is a great deterrent.

Crime is, as I have seen firsthand, worse.

I'll stand by my statement that the so-called "public safety mill levy" that was to maintain and GROW our police and fire departments isn't helping. The police department got $2.5 MILLION alone, to add 28 full-time employees... of those, 14 sworn officers.

Is the solution to continue funneling money into the police force like Homer Simpson at a donut factory? No, it isn't.

Is the solution to defund our Police? No, it isn't.

What is the solution then?

Rather than expect the PD to do anything, you should. Our solution to this? I know we will get a new door, with a new locking system on it, and likely some security cameras for our laundry facility. Ideally, if I have it my way, I'd like to see the entire complex install security cameras. Or, allow me to install my own on the outside of the unit.

In reality... I wish Billings was a better place to live. I really do love this city, and always have. It's a shame it is going to hell.