JEDDAH: The day Jeddah had its unprecedented rains in many years, I had my first encounter with a burglar.

I got out of sleep at about 7 a.m. on Wednesday. I turned off the air-conditioner and considered going back to sleep. While in this state of indecision, I heard some noise near the air-conditioner.

I had no idea that it was raining heavily outside. Then I heard the thunder and saw the lightning. At first I thought the noise must be coming from the rain dropping on the A/C unit and did not give it much attention. I went back to my bed.

Then I saw the curtain in my bedroom moving. “Oh God, is the wind so strong that it is moving the curtains?” I asked myself. A few seconds later I saw dim light coming from a flash lamp. What was happening, I asked myself again. Then the curtain was moved to one side and I saw him.

He was thin, tall and black. “Oh, Oh what is this?!” I shouted, not exactly aware of what was happening. I came close to the window and I caught a glimpse of him retreating. At this particular moment I realized that I had just seen (and stopped) a burglar.

I ran out very quickly looking for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. I called the guard of our building who was coming down from the apartment above me. I asked him if he had seen a tall black man in Moroccan clothing.

He said he had not and asked me what was wrong. I told him the story and he suggested going around the building to know where he was coming from.

We circled our building and we saw a long piece of wood leaning from the neighboring building up to my bedroom, which he had used as a ladder.

Now this burglar must have thought that the apartment was empty as the residents could be in Makkah for Haj. He had picked early in the morning because there was no activity in the area as the schools were closed for the Eid holidays.

So it is not a far cry that burglars and thieves often try their luck during the Haj season as many residents might be in Haj.

I was lucky that he was unable to enter into the room (though I am not sure of what he would have taken as there was nothing of value inside). He however succeeded in spoiling my day. Will he return?

I am not sure but I am sure of this: I will lock my windows and put iron bars over them!