Thats fcuked Eugene.
Like S13Deviat I also have first hand experience in dealing with these pricks as I had my house on the North Shore broken into while I was home (Theif smashed the front door glass and reached in to unlock the door) however this one got a very very rude shock when they discovered me waiting on the other side of the door ready to knock them out. To make matters more interesting though, the intruder was female and off her face and bolted when I confronted her.
Had I not been home, the little shit would have had full access to the house so it was a close call.
Police told me it was very very common, so judging by what you have said, it is still just as bad and worse.
Glad to hear that your mother in law's loss was minimal - Time to upgrade security