Imagine coming home to find that your dinner has mysteriously vanished from the freezer. Now, imagine checking your security camera—only to see a massive black bear casually strolling through your house, making itself at home in your kitchen, and stealing your lasagna.
That’s exactly what happened to Helena Richardson, a homeowner in Barkhamsted, Connecticut. And yes, the whole thing was caught on video.
A Bear With a Plan
The unexpected visitor wasn’t just wandering aimlessly. This bear had a mission. It skillfully opened the freezer, grabbed a frozen lasagna, and made a daring escape—all within 35 minutes.
The footage from Richardson’s Ring security camera shows the bear confidently entering through a screen door, heading straight for the kitchen like it knew exactly where to go. At one point, it even stood up on its hind legs, pulled open the freezer drawer, and plucked out the lasagna with impressive precision.
But the best part? Instead of using the door, the bear chose an open window for its grand exit, jumping out with its prize still firmly in its jaws. Talk about a well-executed heist!
“Like He Owned the Place”
Richardson wasn’t home at the time, but she got a notification from her security system while at work. What she saw left her in disbelief.
“I knew no one was supposed to be at home at that time. So I checked, and it was the bear,” she told CBS 58. “You can see him going from room to room, as comfortable as I am in my house.”
What makes this even more ironic? The lasagna had been a gift from Richardson’s mom. “My mom made me some lasagna, I left it in the freezer, and the bear just, you know, took it,” she added.
Not an Isolated Incident
Surprisingly, this isn’t the only bear breaking and entering in Connecticut. The state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) reports that at least 70 bears have entered homes in 2024 alone.
Experts say the rise in bear intrusions is due to “habituated bears”—animals that have lost their natural fear of humans because they’ve learned to associate people with food. Things like unsecured trash, pet food, and even bird feeders can attract them.
To prevent more furry home invaders, DEEP recommends:
- Keeping garbage in airtight containers inside locked storage areas
- Removing bird feeders from March through November
- Never leaving pet food or meat scraps outside
- Cleaning barbecue grills thoroughly
- Supervising pets outdoors
And, most importantly—if you see a bear, don’t try to befriend it. No matter how much it loves lasagna.
Would You Keep a Lasagna Thief Out?
With bears getting bolder, would you change how you store food? Or would you just accept your home as an all-you-can-eat buffet for wildlife? Let us know in the comments! And if this story gave you a laugh, share it with your friends—because everyone needs to see this legendary lasagna heist.
