When your house gets robbed, do you change the locks and secure your property, or do you carry on as if nothing happened? Do you  sympathize with the robbers, imagining the desperation that drove them to commit such an act—maybe they were trying to support their families ? Should you consider leaving refreshments next time, just in case they return?

About a year ago, I encountered the defendant at a grocery store. The interaction was unsettling, with their demeanor silently challenging me: How dare you refuse to do business with me? They walked away with an air of threat, as though planning retaliation. Shortly after, the payments stopped entirely. At first, I didn’t give the missed payments much thought—going to court over the matter seemed tedious, and dealing with someone so unpleasant wasn’t appealing.
As time passed, troubling stories came to light. Another market vendor had been targeted, threatened with litigation if they dared to speak publicly about their experience. The incidents seemed to grow more audacious, and it became clear that action was necessary to protect the community. Determined to address the issue, I summoned the defendant to court over the missed payments.
At the hearing, the defendant exhibited a misplaced confidence, creating chaos, hurling insults, and making baseless claims of overpayment. I couldn’t help but wonder: if overpayment had occurred, why hadn’t they provided evidence for verification? Resolving the matter should have been straightforward, but their behavior suggested otherwise.
Complications arose when I temporarily lost access to my domain and email due to a system glitch, causing emails to bounce back. Seizing the opportunity, the defendant claimed to have sent payment to the inaccessible email address. However, they hadn’t accounted for the fact that my e-transfer auto-deposit system was still fully operational. Armed with a screenshot of a recent deposit, I emailed the defendant to disprove their claim. There was no reply—silence that hinted at an unraveling deception.
By the next court appearance, the defendant’s demeanor had shifted dramatically. The earlier bravado had vanished, replaced by a deflated and defeated look, as though it got hit by a Mack truck. The transformation was almost comical. I now wait for the next court date, confident that the truth will prevail.
So, I ask again: when your house gets robbed, who is the victim—the homeowner or the thief?