I have had some weird things happen to me over the ten years I've been in real estate, but last week was a doozey.
I typically do not attach lockboxes to the front door, because we live in a very laid back trouble free area. No one could use the stolen box without the codes, and they would probably withstand a nuclear strike, so the odds of someone being able to get in is practically null, even if they wanted to try.
However, last week I got a call from a client who said, "we think a bear ate your lockbox".
People around here are used to bears. They are basically harmless unless they feel there cubs are threatened, and they are quite interesting to have as backyard visitors. About the only problems they cause are related to food. They upset trash cans in search of a forgotten cupcake, and they can sometimes actually get into a house if they smell food through an open window (which is not a good thing to have happen), but for the mostpart they are good neighbors if you know the rules of cohabitation.
I never dreamed they would have any interest in lockboxes. Upon further investigation, a bear was in fact the perp, but instead of eating it as first reported, he merely relocated it to the backyard. Why he was interested I have no idea, but maybe the key made an interesting rattle noise. Perhaps bears like "baby rattles" too.
At any rate, I'm glad we found it or it would have been a lifelong mystery. I would hate to meet the bear, face to face, that could actually eat a lockbox.
I think I will start securing my boxes better in the future.
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