A North Las Vegas couple says their quiet Wednesday morning turned surreal when they woke up to find a hooded stranger in their bedroom, a man they believe crawled into the house through their doggy door. Homeowner Nilo Liwanag says he spotted the intruder holding a pair of shoes and socks, grabbed him, and held on while his wife called the police. The couple says the man appeared to have been inside overnight and had even made himself a small bed, a discovery that left them rattled.
Police response and charges
Liwanag told reporters the encounter unfolded just after 7 a.m. near Gowan Road and North Martin Luther King Boulevard, and that officers arrived in about five minutes, according to KSNV. Police arrested the man and booked him on trespassing and burglary charges after the homeowner reported items out of place. Liwanag said there were clear signs someone had stayed the night, including a blanket laid out as a makeshift bed and a partially consumed beer left behind.
“Shocked, like totally shocked I am like what are you doing in here?” Liwanag said in an interview with KSNV. He told the station the man apologized and claimed he “just needed some clothes,” a comment the family said left them incredulous. The couple says they have since removed the pet-door flap and are urging neighbors to double-check their own pet exits and security cameras.
Why pet doors can be risky
Security professionals and local reporting have long warned that pet doors can serve as an easy, low-profile way into a home. A recent video from KTNV shows a burglar slipping through a doggie door and into a house on camera. Cases like that highlight how even a small opening can be enough for someone to get inside unnoticed, especially overnight or when residents are in another part of the home. The North Las Vegas incident is the latest reminder that convenience can come with a security trade-off.
How residents can fortify pet exits
Home-safety guides and pet-door manufacturers recommend a few straightforward precautions: lock or cover the pet flap when it is not in use, consider microchip- or collar-activated doors that open only for your animal, install motion-sensor lights and cameras, and keep valuables out of rooms that can be accessed through a pet door, according to PetSafe. Other advice includes installing pet doors in walls instead of primary exterior doors and using removable steel covers at night to block entry, per Angi. Those steps can help ensure a handy pet shortcut does not double as an open invitation.
North Las Vegas residents who see suspicious activity are urged to contact the North Las Vegas Police Department at 702-633-9111 or file an e‑police report through the city’s online portal, according to the City of North Las Vegas. The Liwanag family says they hope neighbors will pay closer attention to pet doors and cameras and look out for one another on their block.
