I Got Robbed Recently, and Here's What I Learned from the Experience

It all began one morning around 2 a.m. I was at school, staying in a student lodge located outside the campus. I was awakened by a loud bang. I jumped up in shock, hearing the sounds of pleading and begging from my neighbor. Apparently, some armed men had just kicked his door open and were threatening to hurt them with machetes. I quickly turned off my lights, as I had fallen asleep with them on. Peeping through my curtains, I saw several men with machetes and flashlights. As soon as one of the flashlights, which was scanning the lodge, shone first on my window - through which I was peeping from a corner - and then on my door, I knew it was my turn.

I stepped back, my heart pounding furiously, and then - bang! The first kick hit my door. It bent and opened slightly but still held on. The second bang, and it swung open. Now, here's the thing: I had a metal door - I'm not sure if it was steel - with a lock and two bolts, one at the top and another at the bottom. I usually only bolted the top one.
So, my door was open in the middle of the night, with a man standing in front of it. He scanned the room with his flashlight (assuming it wasn't also stolen) before asking me to move to a side of the room. He didn't even speak a word at first; just pointing the light at me and then at a corner of the room a couple of times made me understand what he wanted.

I went to that corner, shirtless and in shorts, with my hands raised. Soon after, another guy joined him in the room.
They asked for my smartphone and money. I pointed to my bed where my phone was and told them I had no money. This went on for a while before he picked up the phone to check it out. He dumped it into a sack he was carrying and went on to ask for money, while at the same time going through my bag on the bed. I got scared, and a cold chill went through my bones as I suddenly remembered I had some money in my bag - not much, but it was there. I knew that robbers hate being lied to.

He searched through the bag while his comrade went to my wardrobe, even trying on a shirt before dumping it on the ground and breaking the wardrobe. All the while, they were still flashing bright lights at my face, so I could see very little of what was happening.
He finally found the cash in my bag and the medication I had in there, too. He focused the light on me, but I could still see him looking at me. He looked at me, then looked at the money, and repeated this a couple of times before he handed the money back to me and walked out.

It took me a few minutes to compose myself, and I was suddenly hit with a wave of gratitude to God that I wasn't harmed. Recalling the events of the robbery, still in its aftermath, I remembered greeting the man who kicked my door open with "Good morning, sir," to which he replied. I found it insanely funny that even in panic and shock, I still had my good manners.

About 30 minutes later, my neighbors came out, and I joined them. We all began recounting our experiences with the robbers. During the conversation, a flashlight beam hit the gate, and a voice followed it. I recognized the voice, but that didn't stop me from joining everyone else in running away for safety before finally returning to open the gate for the neighbor. Luckily, he had gone out the previous night and was just returning.
Realizing who it was, we all came out again, mocking each other for running away in fear.

What I Learned from the Robbery:
1. If You Have Locks, Use Them - All of Them.
2. Don't Struggle with the Robbers. If it seems they just want belongings, cooperate so they don't hurt you. I acknowledge that this is not always the case. Did I mention that the guys who broke into my place were high as hell?
3. Don't Be Too Quick to Be a Hero. As I was being robbed, a couple of my neighbors were too, simultaneously. Don't fight back unless it's completely necessary for survival. Imagine beating up the guys (if I could) and then finding more waiting outside.
4. Be Grateful for Getting Out Safely. Thank God for getting out safely.

Conclusion:
Hopefully, we can build a society where these vices don't exist, but until then, please do all that's necessary to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. P.S. I got a brand-new smartphone, significantly better than my last one.
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