Thief Breaks Into and Sleeps in Mountain View Home

A break in. That's the last thing Jacob and Melinda Mandell expected to happen after moving into their new Mountain View home.

"A little creepy, feel slightly violated," Jacob said. "It's kind of disturbing to us."

The Mandells signed a lease for their new home last Sunday and staring moving thing in. On Monday, they received a call from the owner that the contractors found the back door had been broken into.

The thief opened up their moving boxes and stole a few things. But in the bedroom, the couple discovered the most disturbing details: the man who broke in had slept there -- in their room.

"We came in and this was the bedroom where he was sleeping," Jacob said. "He had taken the sleeping bag and sleeping pad out of the closet."

Mountain View police advised the Mandells purchase and install a surveillance camera at their new home. The camera caught the man returning to the house again the next night.

The thief was caught on camera taking some clothing and putting them on.

The Mandell's landlord has owned the home for 35 years and has never had to report a break in.

"I feel sorry for my tenants," the landlord said. "No one likes to be invaded like that."

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