A Very Neighborly Breaking and Entering

To the Editor:
I would like to take a minute to thank a Good Samaritan in Sea Isle. About a week ago I found myself in a challenging situation. Around 5:00, on a Monday afternoon, I returned home after running some errands. I unlocked my door and put my bags, cell phone, and keys inside the house. I went outside to get one more thing out of my car. I was very surprised to realize when I got back to the door that I had somehow locked myself out.
At 5:00 in the afternoon on a Monday in October in Sea Isle, there really isn’t anyone around to ask for help. I took a few minutes to think about what my options were and decided that the best thing to do was start walking to the police station.
On my way down Central Avenue, I flagged down a gentleman driving by the Public Works building at 40th and Central. He was nice enough to stop and let me use his cell phone. I called the police station to ask for help. To my surprise, the officer told me that they do not have the tools to gain access to a locked house. She suggested that I call a locksmith. The gentleman was kind enough to allow me to continue to use his phone. We had to look up a number for a local locksmith. I made the call but since it was after office hours, I was prompted by an automated system to leave a voicemail with a number where they could return my call. I was not able to do that because my phone was locked inside my house, so I hung up.
I feel so lucky that this very polite and patient gentleman, who was probably on his way home for dinner, was willing to go out of his way and drive to my house to see if there was any way he could help me out. I suggested breaking the window in the door. He suggested leaving that as a last option since it would be costly to have that fixed. He was very methodical, persistent, creative and ultimately successful in his attempt to get in, and without damaging anything, no less.
I cannot thank this gentleman enough for his kindness and patience. It is nice to know that there really are people out there who are willing to help. It is even more impressive that when I offered him some money and or a refreshment, he declined. When I told him I would like to return his kindness, he said it wasn’t necessary. I told him I would be writing a letter to the editor of the Herald and asked him his name. He said “just a local Sea Isle guy from the Water and Sewer Department.”
Thank you again, sir. I don’t know what I would have done if I hadn’t flagged you down. I truly appreciate that we have people like you working for our city.