Police Answer Call About Suspected Intruder Locked In Bathroom, Turns Out It Was A Robotic Vacuum Cleaner

When members of the Washington County Sheriff’s Department in Northwest Oregon responded this week to an emergency call at a woman’s home, they had guns drawn ready to face down a suspected intruder who had locked themselves in a bathroom.

The woman claimed she could see shadows moving around beneath the bathroom floor. Several minutes later, deputies arrived with K-9 units requested to back up the police.

Instead of an armed intruder, police found a Roomba Robotic Vacuum cleaner performing what a press statement on Wednesday described as a "thorough vacuuming job."

The statement noted that one official confirmed that as police "entered the home we could hear 'rustling' in the bathroom."

Police had ordered the person to unlock the door and exit calmly to no response. The police would then knock down the door with guns drawn.

The sheriff’s department hasn’t said if charges will be filed against on the suspect or the caller. The department confirmed to International Business Times that it was a 9-1-1 call made on Monday.

While this was a case of a false alarm, Deputy Brian Rogers said that when facing safety concerns people should always call the police.

"If you have any idea someone is in your house, absolutely, let us come do our job," said Rogers.