I really did not want to make this post. This is my second time in a row having bad sitters.
I am deployed with Air Force until July. I had a previous with a sitter who quit with no notice and left maverick in the house.
Current house sitter started in late Feb and everything was super cool until about 3 days ago. When called me and said some of his friends had come over and stolen items in my house. Then the following day he changed it to someone came thru the basement windows, from the backyard and repaired my fence after they broke it. From there the stories get crazier. I attempted to alleviate his worries and at his request, to order motion detector spot lights and outside cameras for the house. Shortly after those items arrived yesterday, he calls the cops and fire department to investigate a strange gas smell in the house and claimed that someone started squatting in my basement. 2 hrs later after the cops leave (around 8:18pm on 2 April) I see the sitter leave with Maverick and my car (i have a nest doorbell camera that still works). My neighbors have not seen him since the fire department left. My neighbors also have not seen anyone break into the house or tear my fence apart only to rebuild it after they escaped.
Current house sitter is missing with my dog Maverick and my car.
I did give permission to use my car for groceries and emergencies and to take Maverick to dog parks.
No I did not give permission for him to stay overnight somewhere else with or without Maverick.
He has lost his phone or refusing to answer both me and TrustedHousesitters member support.
According to the police, tiny people had broken into my basement and attempted to start a fire in my house with acetone splashed on my basement walls. This is according to the police and fire fighters who called me afterwards to ask about who this person in my house is. For the record, the cops found no signs of forced entry, and the fire fighters using gas emissions testers and sensors for flammable stuff found nothing. My house is only has gas water heater and furnace. It is all electric for everything else. But no leaks detected.
Maverick, my 11 yr old husky, is currently missing with sitter and my car.
I need help. Again. I apologize for somehow picking wrong sitters back to back.
According to the police, the sitter was claiming tiny people were breaking in. My basement windows are incredibly tiny and not for humans to go through. And so my sitter proclaimed that they were short tiny people.
Not even the cops understood what this sitter was saying.
Sounds like a criminal case at this point. Coordinate with THS as needed, but this guy has now stolen your car and your dog. Make sure you file police reports, in case your car gets wrecked or otherwise.
The sitter is weird for sure but it’s a leap for them to steal a car and kidnap a dog. I suspect an unauthorized road trip to visit a friend. They will most likely return thinking you will be none the wiser. At which point you need to play it cool, don’t cause a confrontation and come up with an innocuous reason to end the sit and get them the heck out of there.
Regrettably the local police are unable to do much because of using this service on THS. Meaning that because he is contracted through THS, and he had permission to use my car (despite my expressed and written instructions on limitations while driving) and he had permission to take Maverick to vet for emergencies and dog park outings, I am unable to make this a criminal theft at this point.
I have 30 days worth of doorbell camera footage and the moment he was last seen downloaded, the local police are not currently interested in searching or reviewing this data.
Any opinion, he has broken all terms of service, all parts of agreements, and broken my trust with the safety of my dog. And therefore constituting a crime, but apparently the police dont see it this way right now.
I could really care less about my car at this point. I would honestly be cool with him just returning Maverick and taking the car.
How is it a leap? There is footage, he has not responded to calls from me, THS member support, and the Aurora PD. He told my neighbors he lost his phone or it was stolen during the alleged break in. Its been almost 36 hours with no return and no contact. His emergency contact is not picking up. He didnt contact any of my emergency contacts to come help. From my standpoint with the information I have, it is a leap to believe he just took a stroll to go somewhere. I get trying to remain positive but logic starts to break down the positive scenarios pretty quickly. Unless you’re saying this is common behavior for sitters?
Firstly, glad that police authorities seem involved. Not sure what THS Member Services can credibly do here but good that they are in loop too. Hopefully your dog and car are returned soon, and any property damage repaired.
Second, after your world returns to normality then suggest take time to reflect. Multiple bad sitters is clearly possible but a bad coincidence and timely catalyst for investigative effort.
Suggest review listing to ensure details about property; pet behaviour/care; and other matters are accurate
Suggest reflect on seeming issues of each bad sitter/situation; any profile red flags; and your selection/video call questions
Suggest revise listing, applicant shortlist criteria & video call diligence process as appropriate
For any future THS housesit, consider prioritizing applicant with ample positive reviews
Consider if THS is optimal solution for your situation. We have never applied for a housesit with a husky and make no related comment but some pet care responsibilities are best suited to paid professionals.
My suggestion was less about the car than potential liability if your insurer considered that you loaned the car vs. it was stolen. I say this, because if you’re in the U.S. at least, you could end up being sued if someone using your car does damage, hurts or kills anyone.
Maybe the cops won’t do anything, but some jurisdictions have online platforms where you can at least file a police report to put things on record. Doing something like that, if possible, would not affect your wanting the return of your dog. But at least CYA.
So sorry this has happened. I assume he will be arrested, as he stole your car and dog. I wish I was nearby, as I would sit for you until you sorted this out. Maybe there are other locals who could. There are some crazy sitters out there.
I am so sorry to hear this. It sounds like the sitter had some sort of mental break. Do you have any trusted friend or family in the area who can be a point person while you are deployed? I can’t imagine how worrying this must be
I can agree with that. My positive scenario, is that he had a mental breakdown with paranoia and took maverick somewhere he thought was safe because he didnt believe the cops and firefighters, and just forgot where he put his phone(s) and didnt have time to make an emergency contact. If he would have spoken to me about feeling so unsafe that he needed to leave the house that quickly after cops investigated, I wish he would have told me or at least contacted my 4 emergency contacts to come help. Im pretty reasonable if I have communication and some understanding that someone needs help. I could have easily gotten a friend to come by and check things out. I sent him all the items he requested for the house, no matter how crazy it sounded. I am willing to accommodate, but dammit I need communication and you cant just leave with my dog without saying anything. I know pay phones aren’t a thing but there are ways to contact someone without a phone. That’s my most positive scenario, that he comes back and drops Maverick off back at my house. And then I go with plan C for the remainder of deployment.
