Bank Takes Everything in Woman's House by Mistake

Katie Barnett knows who broke into her house and stole almost everything she owns, but the police won't do a thing about it. That's because the thief is First National Bank, which "repossessed" her house in McArthur, Ohio, by mistake—they'd intended to get the one across the street. The bank then sold, threw out, or otherwise disposed of what it took, and is now refusing to pay to replace it, 10TV reports.

Barnett sent the bank's president an $18,000 bill. "He got very firm with me and said, ‘We’re not paying you retail here, that’s just the way it is,'" she says. "Well I'm sorry, I'm not running a yard sale here. … They took my stuff and I want it back." As Above the Law points out, the president's alleged statement indicates that he recognizes the $18,000 quote as representing legitimate replacement value, but simply isn't willing to pay it. "It's all about not making the victim whole." (Daily Kos has started a petition on the woman's behalf.)