Getting burgled is not pleasant, as anyone who has come home to find
their place trashed will testify. On the other hand, it can sometimes be
difficult to spot the difference.
Arriving at Ruder Finn’s Chelsea offices last Monday, account manager
Louise Dunn did not notice anything amiss. Papers strewn across the
floor, furniture overturned and a general air of chaos. Obviously the
team had a bad Friday. Or so she thought.
In fact, the agency had been robbed of pounds 10,000 worth of
television, video, fax and personal computer equipment. It wasn’t until
Dunn noticed desk drawers on the floor and the petty cash box lying open
that the alarm was raised.
‘Maybe we should have a tidy desk policy so we can tell immediately if
we’ve been burgled rather than taking half an hour over it,’ says
managing director Lee Tomkins.
Even so, Tomkins admits a sneaking admiration for the thieves’ financial
astuteness. Her drawer containing dollars, francs and other foreign
currency was also plundered. All, that is, except for the Italian lire
which was left neatly in a large pile.
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