The Police Come to 588 Main

Yes, people, our house was broken into!
Last week, our awesome, most helpful neighbor alerted us to the fact that lights were on in the upstairs of the house. Immediately we had him call the police. Lights should not be on, as I always turn off the power at the panel when I leave, and the only light I leave on is in the Master Bedroom, which goes out when I turn off the panel. But the lights were on in the bathroom and the fireplace bedroom, not in the Master Bedroom. Very strange.


So the police arrive, and see no immediate signs of forced entry, but then try the lock on the french door to the library. It's unlocked. Hmmmmm.....I locked that door before I left, checked it from inside and out, and then tied a rope around the handles inside for extra measure. The rope was still there, but the door was unlocked. The police cut the rope to get inside, but before stepping in, they see one set of footprints leading from that hallway to the french door, then back to the hallway. Even stranger, as I just refinished the floor in there in March, and put the first coat of urethane on the floor the day before I left. No one has walked across that floor since March.


Things get stranger still. The beds upstairs were not disturbed, nor was the liquor and wine in the parlor gone, no tools were stolen, etc. Had it been kids that broke into the house, they most definitely would NOT had turned on the lights, the alcohol would be gone, tools would most likely have been stolen, and the place would have been damaged. None of that. Nor would it be a homeless person. That place would be the grand prize to a homeless person...alcohol, clean sheets, dry and canned goods to eat, a means of cooking; but we highly doubt they would turn the lights on to bring attention to themselves.


At this point the police feel that is a person that has been in the house before and knows the layout. The means of entry was they wriggled under the back porch, and came up into the kitchen by the hobbit door, where the floor was open. They would have had to know where the electrical panel was, and that the electric is turned off while we are gone. The names of all the contractors that have worked on the house have been given to the police and the police are keeping watch.

Originally, I was going to cancel my next trip to the house, but in light of the situation, I will be going down and beefing up the security big time at the house. Following that I will be building the shelves in the library, doing the molding in there and the front parlor, as well as refinishing the front parlor floor. Primarily interior work that needs to be completed. The dogs will be with me as usual. Can't live without my buddies!

Will post pictures of the completed paint in the library and the finished floor later on..right now, back to work!