Last night, while one downtown Arcata family slept, burglars creeped into their home, gathered up items and made off in their 2010 black Volkswagen Touareg, which they’re still making payments on.

Jolene, a nursing student, told the Outpost that the burglars must have come in through the family’s front door between 10:30 p.m. and 4 a.m., when she got up to do her shift at the local hospital. The front door was wide open and her purse, a skateboard and her son’s backpack were gone. When she looked outside, the car was gone too.

Shortly after she awoke, she called the police and her credit card company. The credit card people said that her card had been used at a Eureka gas station at about 4:30 a.m. The APD sent out a call to the Eureka Police Department and other local law enforcement agencies to keep an eye out for the vehicle.

Luckily, Jolene was able to send along (tiny) photographs of her Touareg and a slightly larger one of the license plate — 6MIE807. If you see this thing on the streets somewhere, please call the Arcata Police Department at (707) 822-2428.