Thieves leave a mess

COEUR d'ALENE - They came in uninvited, played games, ate, made a mess, and left.

No, these weren't relatives.

These were burglars.

A woman watching a house in the 800 block of Gilbert Avenue for the owner called police Monday when she discovered someone had entered the home sometime overnight.

What she found was a bit strange.

Things were randomly scattered around and tossed on the floor.

Drawers and doors were open, and two cans of fruit were half eaten and left. Food was removed from the freezer and left on the floor. Even linen cabinets were searched and items left on the floor.

"Suspects removed a game system from a box and hooked it up to the TV," the police report said. "Looked like they played the game."

The only items missing were boxes of silver dollars. A safe was found open and on the floor of a bedroom.

Police noted the thieves did not take any electronics or items including bronze statues that would have been easy to pawn.

The burglary is similar to two reported earlier this month, when homes were searched, and items scattered around.

Police could not determine how suspects gained entry to the home.

An investigation continues.