DH and I think we had an intruder in our house last night/ this morning.

[OKKiddo]

Posting in the BP because I just need to vent--and hopefully after purging it from my system I can finally sleep again! Yesterday evening I got back late and DH was already home. I walked up to the door with a armful of groceries (and more to carry in) and realized the door was hanging open. I called out to my DH, thinking he must just be taking his shoes off in the coat closet, only to find that he was upstairs and had been home about 5 mins--totally unaware the front door was open the whole time. We carried groceries in, started fixing dinner and the darn dogs would. not. shut. up!! I finally ran down the stairs and put them outside and they didn't bark once outside. Bring them back inside after dinner, and while the kids were in the bath, and more barking. Back outside until the kids are in bed and then we went into the laundry room to feed/water/medicate them for the night (shutting door and turning off light). Only a few barks and then I put them in their crate and turned the light off. DH did his workout routine downstairs (dogs were whining the whole time he said) and then he came upstairs and we went to sleep (approx. midnight). All doors were locked and all lights were turned off because that's my routine (he forgets). I fall asleep to the t.v. and set the timer to turn off in 60 minutes as I'm getting drowsy (t.v. turned off around 1am). We heard creaky noises in the middle of the night approx. 2am and thought it was the wind or cold front coming in. Then at 4am he got up for work and went downstairs to get his bag and found the laundry room door wide open and the light on. He said he just got this really bad feeling in his gut and a cold sensation anytime he went downstairs. He woke me up and we searched the house (every closet, every nook/cranny, under every bed, etc.) We didn't find anyone or anything. What I did discover is that the ground level window on the landing towards the basement was open about 2 inches. The lock was gone. As in, not there anymore at all. If it's in the bushes I can't check because it's cedar shrubs and I'm majorly allergic to cedar--hives that only steroid meds can make go away We knew the lock needed to be repaired because it kept falling out of the latch but we'd screw it back in and it would hold enough that you couldn't open the window without some pretty good shaking and jiggling--which we thought we'd hear if anyone tried.

DH has replaced the lock and now all windows, doors, etc. have been checked and secured but here it is bedtime and my mind is racing and worrying. I'm just all around freaked out. On the positive side--Basset Hounds never get a good reputation as guard dogs but they were definitely alerting us and we just didn't understand their message.

[Leshoequeen]

Omg. That's scary as hell. I might make a police report just to cover all bases.


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[AngelaS]

Holy cow!! So was someone hiding in your house that whole time??? Creepy! Thank God you're okay!

[OKKiddo]

We're pretty sure they were--somewhere in the laundry room, which is the basement storage/utility room housing the hot water heater, heater/air conditioner thing (that's how I refer to it--I change those filters on the 1st of every month and that's about all I want to know about it). There's a large space behind the hot water heater and the heater/air conditioner thing. When we're feeding/watering the dogs the utility room door is open and blocks any view of that area completely. DH asked me if the kids had put the knitted afghan on the floor for the dogs and I know I hadn't because I had just washed/dried it and it had been on top of the dryer, where I had tossed it to make room for more towels.

[connor_mommy]

Is it too late to call the non-emergency police line to report it?

[AshleyAnn]

Sort of odd if someone was in the house they'd just leave the doors wide open. The window sure but a door being wide open just doesn't make sense to me if they were trying to hide their presence. Did they take anything or is anything distributed?

Definitely call the police. They can fingerprint / check for clues and make a note to show a higher presence in your area. How would you feel of you let this go and one of your neighbors were harmed.

[trcy]

That gave me chills. Glad everyone is ok, but definitey report it.

[OKKiddo]

DH doesn't think reporting it will do much good, when my car was broken into here they didn't even take fingerprints and I definitely felt like they didn't take it very seriously. In that even someone had taken only the silver change out of my coin holder, the $20 emergency cash I keep inside my glove compartment (inside the car manual), and all of the Disney DVD's that were in the car (in a separate dvd binder from the other dvd's that held only Leap frogs, PBS kids dvd's etc).

I'm all around frustrated freaked out and just ready to MOVE! I already had safety concerns with our car, the kids getting into and out of the car, and now this? I've even asked the landlords if we can install a security system and they asked if we could just put those As Seen On TV door alarms on the doors instead. :( I keep telling myself it's only a few more months before we either get orders to leave or before our lease is up. Just a little longer....

[OKKiddo]

Sort of odd if someone was in the house they'd just leave the doors wide open. The window sure but a door being wide open just doesn't make sense to me if they were trying to hide their presence. Did they take anything or is anything distributed?

Definitely call the police. They can fingerprint / check for clues and make a note to show a higher presence in your area. How would you feel of you let this go and one of your neighbors were harmed.

One of my neighbors IS a police officer (one who drives around our neighborhood on patrol while texting and driving). I told her about it and she brushed it off saying it was probably a teenager looking for cash/wallets laying around.

[DietCokeLover]

Oh how scary!

[DietCokeLover]

One of my neighbors IS a police officer (one who drives around our neighborhood on patrol while texting and driving). I told her about it and she brushed it off saying it was probably a teenager looking for cash/wallets laying around.

Good gracious. I hope I never have to move to your town with they way the police respond to complaints!

[OKKiddo]

Oh, I forgot to mention another item that was stolen when my car was broken into: my Giant store card. The thief used the gas points the same night that my car was broken into and there are only two gas stations in this town that accept that store card for redemption. Isn't that something the police could have traced? They didn't even bother.

I just wish I could go back to my nice, peaceful world where the trouble is OUTSIDE the house and our safety is still covering us, like a warm blanket, inside. I wish we were just wrong and reactionary and that no one was really in our home. But my gut, and my husband's, are both telling us that something was amiss in our home and that our sense of safety was only an illusion. We've taken precautions now and I'm sure it will be a long time before we're relaxed enough to not jump at every sound in this house. The dogs got treats tonight. Nice big meaty ones.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Man, my neighborhood police would have cared and tried. I had my car broken into (well, I accidentally left it unlocked so not exactly a challenge) and for a while I didn't know it happened (thought I just misplaced stuff b/c the theif took random items). Through a weird twist, I discovered it was broken into so I reported it. The police were aware of a thief on that night b/c they hit lots of other cars. It was very useful for them to know of one more victim. I would tell your authorities b/c they may have insight or you may help them.

I'm really sorry that happened. :(

[Edensmum]

Can you leave the dogs to roam at night? They are probably better than an alarm and now you know they will alert you. I think I'd have the kids in with me and leave the dogs out. It sucks that your sense of security was stolen. Have you noticed anything else missing or moved?

[123LuckyMom]

I just couldn't read without responding. It's horrifying to think there was someone in the house all that time and even worse to know that the police don't care. I'd still report it just so you're on record as having made the complaint. The good news is that whoever was in the house clearly just wanted out and was never intending to harm you. It's a mixed blessing, for sure, but a blessing nonetheless! Im so glad you're all okay!

[Mopey]

I'm so sorry OP. Lots of P & pt to you.

And a BIG yes to letting the dogs out - would the medication prevent them from being alerted to something amiss at night? I think it's interesting they started barking once you let them out....Some dogs protect people and some protect property. Sounds like your hounds could be a fabulous line of defense. Also maybe upgrading exterior doors you can eventually take with you?? Leave the originals in the space you mentioned and put them back when you leave....

ETA: and yes, report it no matter what.

Hoping you find some peace tonight :hug:

[mikala]

Op, your story gives me the chills. I agree with others that I'd at least report it so there's a paper trail for insurance in case something turns up missing or in case it fits a pattern for the police. I would hope they would take home invasion more seriously than petty car theft.

[khm]

OP, I'm so sorry. How scary! We had a break in at our last house. Super suburban location. Some people got in and appear to have just.... hung out all day. TV on, frozen pizzas and sodas consumed. They even put dishes in the dishwasher!! We didn't realize until after 1 am (we were out of town). Called the non-emergency line and the police were ALL over it. I was actually surprised how interested they were given we couldn't find anything stolen other than food. 'Course, it was probably the most exciting thing going on that night, I dunno.

It did take me some time to get comfy in my surroundings again, I'm sorry you have to go through that. I wonder if you could get some cheapy motion activated lights, door alarms and the like?

My parents' town was having a spate of break-ins. They'd go into the kitchen and take wallets and purses at night. I guess people are pretty consistent in where they put this stuff! They'd take 'em and leave. Tossing everything but cash (they'd leave credit cards, for example) in bushes after leaving. MANY of the people reported their dogs acted up at X oclock, but none of them investigated. This was a very small town and a very well-known "crime spree" and people STILL didn't pay attention to their dogs! So, don't beat yourself up about that.

[KLD313]

OP, I'm so sorry. How scary! We had a break in at our last house. Super suburban location. Some people got in and appear to have just.... hung out all day. TV on, frozen pizzas and sodas consumed. They even put dishes in the dishwasher!! We didn't realize until after 1 am (we were out of town). Called the non-emergency line and the police were ALL over it. I was actually surprised how interested they were given we couldn't find anything stolen other than food. 'Course, it was probably the most exciting thing going on that night, I dunno.

It did take me some time to get comfy in my surroundings again, I'm sorry you have to go through that. I wonder if you could get some cheapy motion activated lights, door alarms and the like?



I had the same thing happen while I was at work. They ate stuff, drank soda, played video games, printed porn from my computer, rifled thru my underwear drawer and fed my terrified dog biscuits.

The police did nothing because they thought it was neighborhood kids and said there would be no point in taking finger prints.

I felt so violated and it took a long time to get that feeling to go away. OP, that's is so scary and creepy to think someone was in your home while you were there!

[OKKiddo]

Well, we called and reported it. They came out this morning. They didn't take fingerprints. Acted like it was no big deal. Even stated it was likely a kid who was looking for quick cash (wallets, purses, etc). That didn't help at all. Oh, except the officer did find the lock, in the bushes outside the window and took pictures of a footprint. That was it. We were chastised to never leave doors open or windows unsecured. GRRRRRRR!!!!!! On the plus side, it will now go into the HOA monthly newsletter so others will be forewarned before choosing this neighborhood.

[OKKiddo]

Can you leave the dogs to roam at night? They are probably better than an alarm and now you know they will alert you. I think I'd have the kids in with me and leave the dogs out. It sucks that your sense of security was stolen. Have you noticed anything else missing or moved?

I wish we could let them out to roam but one of them feels like we should let him outside every two hours all night long and no one would get any sleep. One of them is also on daily prednisone for Addison's Disease so he sometimes leaks in his sleep (crate is covered in waterproof covers and their bedding gets washed and replaced daily).


The good news is that whoever was in the house clearly just wanted out and was never intending to harm you. It's a mixed blessing, for sure, but a blessing nonetheless! Im so glad you're all okay!

This is the only thing that has me not screaming and running to a hotel. I am so thankful that we weren't on headline news for a kidnapping or worse.


I'm so sorry OP. Lots of P & pt to you.

And a BIG yes to letting the dogs out - would the medication prevent them from being alerted to something amiss at night? I think it's interesting they started barking once you let them out....Some dogs protect people and some protect property. Sounds like your hounds could be a fabulous line of defense. Also maybe upgrading exterior doors you can eventually take with you?? Leave the originals in the space you mentioned and put them back when you leave....

ETA: and yes, report it no matter what.

Hoping you find some peace tonight :hug:

We have reinforced patio doors with brooms (only had a floor lock on the sliding door before) wooden dowels in the windows on the first floor. It looks like it was just our windows that were easy entry/exit points as well as the front door that DH didn't lock (says he closed it when he came home though).


Op, your story gives me the chills. I agree with others that I'd at least report it so there's a paper trail for insurance in case something turns up missing or in case it fits a pattern for the police. I would hope they would take home invasion more seriously than petty car theft.

So far so good on things missing. DH's study is locked so the kids can't get into it (DH and I have the key) and that's where our files are. We have computers on main level and basement as well as ipads/tablets/phones and none of those were taken. If they were after wallets, DH was still changing so his wallet was upstairs with him and I wasn't home yet so my purse was with me. Looks like some really poor planning and stupid actions on the part of the intruder.

[doberbrat]

Op, your story gives me the chills. I agree with others that I'd at least report it so there's a paper trail for insurance in case something turns up missing or in case it fits a pattern for the police. I would hope they would take home invasion more seriously than petty car theft.

TOTALLY Agree!! I'm SO glad 'nothing' happened. Though I would still be quaking in my boots!