I Noticed Someone Was Picking the Lock on Our Condo Door — So My Husband & I Set a Trap,
but We Never Expected Who We'd Catch
Strange footprints, scratched locks, and misplaced items haunted our old condo. We suspected a break-in, but a trap revealed an unexpected truth.
Eric and I had moved from the cozy condo we bought after marriage, renting it out. During a tenant gap, I found muddy footprints inside. Nothing was stolen, but the air felt watched. Fresh scratches appeared on the lock, and items subtly shifted—a mug misplaced, a blanket folded oddly. A watch and keys vanished, only to reappear days later.
Frustrated, we set a trap: paint on the floor and hidden cameras. On my birthday, I noticed peach-colored smudges on my mom’s shoes. Footage confirmed she’d been sneaking in, escaping my dad’s temper. She confessed, ashamed, needing a safe haven.
We helped her leave him, find a job, and start anew. The locks changed, and so did we. She’s free now, and I see her strength clearly.