SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah — Their dream turned into a nightmare. It’s been less than 10 days since a couple closed on their South Salt Lake home. Since then it has been broken into and vandalized three times.
“It was really exciting because we’ve been looking for it for about a year. Really excited to get it,” said resident Andrew Strong.
He and his wife closed on their house and got the keys last Wednesday.
“I came back here on Friday to continue working on this and we noticed that someone had gone into the garage and taken the mini fridge,” Andrew explains.
The following Tuesday, their dream and home were shattered. “I noticed they had broken into the house, taken all my tools and broke everything,” Andrew said.
He works in construction and was busy renovating their new house. So he said tools he had been collecting for 17 years were taken.
Windows were broken, wires cut, pieces of the stove broken and scattered on the floor, blinds ripped off, toilet destroyed and damage to the walls.
On Friday, nine days after closing on their home, Andrew said there had been another break-in. This was the third time. His family has stepped up to help.
“My brother and his wife were just distraught,” said Andrew’s sister, Randi Strong. “I can’t even put into words what that would feel like.”
Andrew told FOX 13 that police are investigating and have not said if they know who did this or have any leads.
“You obviously have to be in a dark place to do this to someone. I wish them the best,” Andrew said of the person or people who broke in. “It was our goal to move there. We don’t know what we’re going to do next.”
“I think it’s more of a sense of violation and security, but you can’t put a price on that,” Randi added. “We have to get through this, we have to get through it.”
And as they get through this, there is so much gratitude for everyone who has supported them.
“I’ve had a huge amount of support from my friends and family, which has been really overwhelming. People do care, people don’t want this to happen,” Andrew said.
If you would like to help them, you will find a link to donate here.