The Patricks live in a duplex apartment near Wilkes-Barre in northeastern Pennsylvania, in a place called Plains Township. It’s about 100 miles north of Philadelphia. Just before Christmas Mrs. Patrick begins hearing strange sounds which she can’t really identify.

"At first I thought we might have squirrels living in the attic, but then I stopped worrying about it," she later tells the cops. A couple days after Mrs. Patrick heard the squirrels in the attic she realizes her husband’s laptop and her daughter’s iPod are missing. That's when she calls the cops.

There are no signs of a forced entry and the Patricks are careful about locking up their house. During a search of the property, one of the cops asks about a large footprint on the wall of the daughter’s closet. The foot mark is right under the trap door to the attic.

The cops bring in one of their K-9 dogs who sniffs around until he gets to the daughter’s bedroom closet. That’s when the dog’s ears perk up and he starts barking.

One of the cops calls out, "Come down with your hands showing or we’ll set the dog on you." Moments later the attic trap door eases open and Hubert, a 21-year-old transient, climbs down.

Hubert is wearing Mrs. Patrick’s old sweat pants and her husband’s worn-out windbreaker and sneakers. Up in the attic, the cops find jars of peanut butter and jelly and a half eaten loaf of bread — from the Patrick's kitchen.

Also saved for evidence is a list made out in Hubert’s own handwriting. At the top of the list are the words: "Hubert’s Christmas list." Contained on the list are items he’s stolen over the last week.

Hubert gained access to the shared attic from the neighbor’s side of the duplex. Meanwhile, Hubert is in the Luzerne County Jail charged with criminal trespass, burglary, and other charges pending.

When was the last time you checked your attic?