Mother calls 911 after intruder ransacks kitchen, unaware of real perpetrator

A mum has gone viral on social media after she was terrified by what she thought was an intruder in her home – only to discover that the culprit had been sneaking around the house in a nappy and sleep sack.

Caitlin Murray, 42, posted details on Instagram (@bigtimeadulting) of the memorable morning she woke up in a panic after what she thought was a break-in at her home. She and her husband went downstairs to find their kitchen ransacked. They weren't sure if the intruder was a drunk stranger or a ravenous creature.

“It was a big shock,” said Murray, of Westchester, New York. Newsweek After surveying the disaster scene, she said she was not only “really scared” but also very confused – it was only 5 a.m. She saw freezers wide open and food strewn all over the kitchen floor.

Ms Murray said: “My husband woke me up to let me know someone was in the house. He got to the kitchen and was stunned to see what appeared to be an animal or a drunk person rummaging through the freezer and pantry. He ran back upstairs to let me know.”

“The freezer door was open and ice cream containers were on the floor, along with several other pantry items, including cookies, crackers and a gallon of water.”

She panicked and without hesitation called 911 to report the break-in, but as it turned out, there was no need to call anyone, as the culprit was already on the loose, and in fact, he was upstairs in his crib, no doubt full.

Shortly after reporting the “intruder” to the police, Murray spotted her 18-month-old son at the top of the stairs looking extremely guilt-ridden, and realized in that moment that it was no intruder, but simply a hungry toddler looking for an early morning snack.

There had been a report of a possible intruder, so police had to arrive on scene to make sure all was well.

“When I found out I was relieved but also worried about what to do with this toddler,” Murray continued. “He was totally fine but we ended up buying a tent for his cot. He got out of his cot and toddled down the stairs in his sleeping bag, which could have been a big challenge but we got him out.”

“He's my third child and all kids have different ways of testing boundaries. This was extreme and made for a really funny story but when the police came you could see he was genuinely scared and remorseful so it was good to see it had an effect on him.”

Thankfully, Murray now sees his son's antics as funny stories and fun anecdotes to share.

On June 11, she spoke out about the incident in an Instagram Reel, warning other parents about the dangers of raising young children. She joked that she never understood why parents use leashes or crib tents to keep their kids inside, but after this experience, she finally understands the precautions.

The hilarious story has had social media users in stitches, already racking up over three million views and 87,500 likes on Instagram. Reaction online has been overwhelmingly positive, with Murray saying it's given people “lots of laughs.”

Since the video went viral, many parents have shared the unexpected joys of having a toddler, with many sharing their own experiences, and the Instagram post has garnered more than 1,900 comments.

One commenter replied: “Looks like he took your advice and went and bought himself a snack!”

Another wrote: “Number 3. Why number 3?! I bet our guy is trying to destroy us.”

Another commented: “I thought kid's leashes were crazy until I had kids. Now I consider buying one every day.”

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