[tedzan]

OK guys, I beg to differ with those of you who have said that the culprits may have known what they were getting into.

1st....Don never allowed strangers in his house. Fifteen miles away in another town, Don and his wife have an Antique
shop, where they conduct all their business dealings.

2nd....As I have said, there have been a rash of thefts in that upstate NY area of homes that are in secluded settings.
So, placing a ladder to gain entry thru windows on a 2nd floor is a clever move by the culprits.

3rd....The 2nd story access is not unusual. Most Alarm systems (wired & wireless) are only installed in the 1st (or entry)
level of a house.

4th....There appears to be a repetitive pattern in the M.O. of these culprits, and hopefully that will lead to their capture.