‘They Stole Everything': Burglars Target San Jose Home Under Fumigation Tent

SAN JOSE, California — A San Jose homeowner is warning the community after burglars sliced through a pesticide tent during a chemical fumigation process, entering the highly toxic property to steal all of the family's valuables.

The homeowners had vacated their property for several days, as required during a standard structural pest control fumigation. However, when they returned to their home, they discovered the fumigation tent had been tampered with. Inside, the house had been thoroughly ransacked, and virtually all of their high-value belongings, electronics, and sentimental items had been stolen.

"They stole everything," the homeowner told reporters, expressing shock that criminals would risk exposure to deadly chemical gases just to loot a house. Security experts note that burglars increasingly target tented homes because they are guaranteed to be empty, and the large tents often obstruct the view of neighbor's windows and security cameras.

Because fumigation requires homeowners to shut down electricity and Wi-Fi, standard smart security cameras and internet-connected alarms are often disabled. Furthermore, standard pest control contracts contain liability waivers, leaving homeowners to rely solely on their personal home insurance policies to recover their losses. Law enforcement officials advise residents to remove all high-value items, documents, and cash from their premises before scheduling a fumigation, or to consider hiring temporary physical security services to guard the property while the tent is active.