Crime & Safety

Could Have Been Worse Say Owners of Home Lived in While They Vacationed

Investigation into vacation break-in by Barrington detectives has identified several suspects.

The Barrington police investigation into the Hampden Meadows home that was lived in while the owners were on vacation is focusing on a couple of suspects. 

But the owners are dwelling on the positive, not the negative, they said in a story in the Providence Journal. 

John Woodard and his family returned to their Fireside Drive home last Sunday, July 28, about 10:30 pm. They found that someone had broken into the house and lived or partied there while they were gone.

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Wet towels were strewn around, the windows were covered by blankets, open bags of food were covered in flies and there was a stench in the house. But very little was destroyed or swiped – just some cash and change, and the car had 35 more miles on it. All the electronics were still there. 

Woodard said the occupants also apparently tried to clean up the house but couldn’t figure out to use the dishwasher or do the laundry. They even changed the batteries in the Wii, he told the newspaper. 

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Woodard said that since the break-in was reported last Monday in Patch, when the investigation by Det. Benjamin Ferreira was just starting, he also has received calls from other media outlets, including CNN and CBS’s “This Morning.”

But the family is not dwelling on the worst aspects of the home invasion. It is looking at the fact that no one was hurt and nothing of significant value was stolen. He speculates that the occupants were neighborhood kids who knew the family was going on vacation. 

Anyone with information about the break-in is asked to contact the detective division or use the confidential tip line operated by the Barrington police – 401-437-3933.


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