Yellowknife (Sep 10/04) - Laurie Stewart has learned a valuable lesson about who she lets into her house.

While on vacation for two weeks, Stewart had hired a housesitter to look after her two cats and to keep her place safe. It was the first time Stewart hired a housesitter.

"My friends use housesitters all the time. I figured that I would give it a try," she said.

When she arrived back home from her vacation in Vancouver, Stewart said she was surprised and angry with what she found.

Stewart said some items, like her children's toys and a backpack, were missing and the oven was broken. She added the housesitter also used Stewart's car without permission.

"I feel like I have been violated," she said. "I trusted this person to look after my house."

Stewart went to the police, but she said there was nothing the police could do.

"There's no evidence that she took anything," she said. "It's my word against hers."

The police recommended Stewart change the locks of her house and notify her bank to prevent identity theft.

The incident hasn't stopped Stewart from hiring a housesitter again, but next time she will be more careful.

Stewart admits she didn't even know her housesitter's last name.

"I took the housesitter at face value. She looked trustworthy," she said. "Next time I won't hire anyone without checking their references and having a written contract."

Stewart says she is still a lucky homeowner. It could have been a worse experience.

"I only lost a few items. I could have lost everything," she said.