Katie Barnett knew something was wrong when her key would no longer open her door. Upon returning home from a two-week trip, she was forced to crawl through a window into her house. Once inside, she saw that everything was gone.
Barnett says all her possessions in her Vinton County, Ohio, home disappeared when Wellston First National Bank confused her home with the house across the street, foreclosed on it, changed the locks, and then sold or trashed everything.
"She called the McArthur Police about the incident, but weeks later, the chief announced the case was closed.
Barnett said that according to the bank president, this was the first time something like this has happened."
“They repossessed my house on accident, thinking it was the house across the street,” Barnett explained to Ohio's 10TV. “They told me that the GPS led them to my house. My grass hadn't been mowed and they just assumed.”
Worse still, Barnett says an itemized list requesting the bank pay her $18,000 so she can replace everything has only been met with ridicule from the bank's president.
“He got very firm with me and said, ‘We’re not paying you retail here, that’s just the way it is,’” Barnett said. “I did not tell them to come in my house and make me an offer. They took my stuff and I want it back.”
The shock of having her house broken into and belongings taken by mistake has now turned into anger.
“Now, I’m just angry,” Barnett said. “It wouldn’t be a big deal if they would step up and say ‘I’m sorry, we will replace your stuff.’ Instead, I’m getting attitude from them. They’re sarcastic when they talk to me. They make it sound like I’m trying to rip the bank off. All I want is my stuff back.”
Can you even imagine if anyone else, even someone who thought they had the right or a good reason to be there, just broke into your home and took everything out to sell, give away, or throw out with the trash? Would the police ignore that?
Officials from the bank refused to appear on camera regarding the incident, however, the bank president told 10TV News that the bank is trying to come to terms with Barnett.
Tell First National Bank to pay Katie Barnett restitution for breaking into her house.
