Thursday was one of those days we all dread.

I had left my laptop and the company DSLR camera in the back of my car while I popped into the Eco Innovation Centre in the centre of Peterborough, and came back fifteen minutes later to find my driver's side front window had been prised open and my possessions had been taken.

My stomach dropped. My mind immediately flitted to everything on my laptop that I will need to reproduce or source again, and I felt an enormous sense of anger that another human being could do something like this without any thought for the problems it would cause me.

Although it is hugely inconvenient, and I was angry at the time, it is important to remember that nobody was hurt, and I am still here. Things could be a lot worse. I had backed up all my files just a couple of weeks ago, and my laptop is password protected and has since been locked down remotely, so the data inside is secure.

Now that I've had a few hours to reflect on it, I will not let this get me down. In business it is important to stay positive. Things happen, and what is most important is how we respond.

The incident got me thinking about crime in Peterborough though, and I decided to do some research into the safest cities in the UK. I found out that crime levels in general have been steadily falling in our city over the last couple of years, especially burglaries and thefts, which is great news.

However, that wasn't always the case, and a guided tour of the city provided by Peterborough Museum illustrates this point.

The Peterborough Crime and Punishment Walk is led by a Victorian policeman on the third Thursday of every month, at which time he will tell you tales of Peterboroughâs shady criminal distant past. It is a chance to learn about the old gaols that existed, and see for yourself where public hangings and floggings took place. The policeman will also introduce you to some of the city's most notorious criminals and explain the history of the city's police force.

Since I found out about the tour, I am dying to go on it. I know I was the victim of an opportunistic crime that is becoming rarer in our city, and I feel positive about that, and I am very interested in learning how far we've come since the days of public displays of justice.

The tour begins outside Peterborough Museum on Priestgate on the third Thursday of each month at 7.30pm. It costs just £5, or £3 for concessions.