Minn. Couple Says Barefoot Burglar Sneaked Into Their Bedroom

LAKELAND, Minn. (WCCO) -- Deputies in eastern Minnesota say they are working an extremely rare type of home burglary case. They say the intruder was especially brazen and the victims say he was barefoot.

It happened on a quiet street in Lakeland in Washington County. An intruder busted in around 5 a.m. Friday morning, and worked so close to the victims that he almost brushed against them.

Yet, he still got away.

Chuck Raven and his wife, Leona, are the victims.

"You feel violated, you know. You really do," Chuck said on Monday, talking about the burglary.

When it happened, his wife was dozing on the couch after she stepped out and unlocked the door to get the morning paper.

She then woke to a faint noise.

"I thought it was [Chuck]," she said. "He had a kidney transplant, so he gets up and goes to the bathroom three or four times."

It wasn't until a few minutes later when she heard a door shut and saw a man carrying something.

"I said 'Oh my gosh, what are you doing?'" Leona said. "And he went running down the road."

Turns out, the burglar had been in their bedroom and taken the top dresser drawer.

Meanwhile, Chuck was sleeping.

He said he didn't hear a thing till Leona woke him up.

As Chuck slept on the left side of the bed, the intruder had taken the drawer, which was in a dresser about a foot away from his feet.

Deputies say it's an unusual case, but they do have a description.

Leona says the burglar had short brown hair, a camouflage cap, black shirt, black shorts and no shoes.

And apparently no fear.

"Somebody's pretty gutsy, pretty gutsy," Chuck said.

He got away with a little money, but he also took a letter Chuck's mom had written him years ago when he was in the military. The letter told him that his best friend had been killed in action.

Chuck doesn't have much hope of getting that back now, but he says it's possible someone will find it in a dumpster somewhere.

Washington County deputies say they are working the case, and any tips are welcome. Anyone with information is asked to call 651-430-7850. Callers can remain anonymous.