Thieves stripped roof from Nissedal holiday cabin, left family in shock

A Nissedal family arrived at their holiday cabin over the Pentecost weekend to find most of its roof stolen, along with tools, kitchenware, and personal items, Dagbladet reports.

Arvid Eidskard, 58, initially assumed storm damage when his sister waved frantically upon his arrival. Instead, they discovered the roof panels had been unscrewed and removed. “We were in shock,” Eidskard said. The cabin, owned by his 81-year-old mother, has been in the family since 1979.

The theft extended beyond the roof. Missing items included a newly installed water pump, three lawnmowers, kitchen utensils, an old VHS player, window glass, and even a rice cooker. “Absurd things—who steals a rice cooker or iron pans from a decades-old cabin?” Eidskard said. The cellar hatch, used as the entry point, was also gone.

Eidskard estimates the theft occurred shortly before the family’s arrival, as the terrace was damp but the interior showed no water damage. “If it had been exposed long, everything would be soaked,” he noted. A neighbor had passed the day prior and seen nothing unusual.

The family spent Saturday purchasing tarps to limit further damage instead of their planned gathering. “It was supposed to be a weekend of relaxation,” Eidskard said. “Now we’re just trying to salvage what’s left.”

Police collected DNA samples, including from a fork unknown to the family. “The officer said he’d never seen a roof stolen before,” Eidskard added. The family has shared photos on social media in hopes of leads.

While the financial loss is secondary to the emotional toll, Eidskard highlighted the labor involved: “We spent an entire summer fixing that roof ten years ago. Now it’s ruined.” His mother, though shaken, remains pragmatic. “She says no one died, and it can be repaired,” he said. “But it’s still devastating.”