How do I react to this one?

[DanuMoonrunner]

This may become a long, rambling post, but please bear with me here. For the last two years, Hawk and I have lived in our building, which used to house our bar. We knew from day one that it was haunted and have had a miriad of happenings in here. The building is a 7800 sq. ft. old Masonic lodge. Upstairs are 2 ballrooms and 2 apartments, downstairs are 2 retail spaces. There has always been a lot of mystery surrounding the upstairs and so much paranormal activity it would take an entire thread to recall it all.
In January, we closed the bar down and went to work for other companies and have started having a real life again. Since we pay so little for the building, we decided to just move downstairs and cut the power off upstairs. Before the move, there was some activity downstairs, glasses and ashtrays flying off tables, things that go bump in the night etc. Since the move, the activity has gotten slightly better. Tonight we came from work to a totally wrecked house, but only wrecked in certain areas. Our first thought was that it was our failry new black lab that had destroyed everything, but upon further investigation, too many things didn't add up.
I have 4 alters set up ont he stage area. The earth and water alters have been completely destroyed, blown glass cauldron in tiny pieces, statues broken etc. The air alter had both statues knocked over and one was on the floor, but the alter itself was not moved at all. Then when I looked at my bookshelf, only the books having to do with healing and Shamanism were moved and in postions that were not natural and could not have happened if the dog had simply knocked them over, some of them were moved to completely different areas. My speaker and mouse on my computer were on the floor, but the wiring is boarded in so the dog couldn't have gotten to them. My nightstand by my bed was knocked over as well as my jewelry armoire, but nothing is missing.
Before I went to work, I sensed a being who felt and looked like a warrior, but felt like it was here for my protection. The dogs and cat are all acting skittish and somewhat afraid, like they were responsible, but very scared. I know they couldn't have done this kind of damage without knocking other things over. The building feels peaceful right now, but as if something has been in it. Normally I have no problem living with the supernatural, but this one has me a little freaked.We cleanse and sage the building at least once a month, and have tried an exorcism, to some avail. It doesn't feel like something is in the building, but may very well be a part of the building. Anyone have any ideas what may have happened? Any ideas on how to stop this happening again? We did just list the building with a realtor and it has been suggested to us that the building doesn't want to let us go. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[StephanieAine]

For whatever reason, I have an extremely strong feeling that you had an intruder. A human intruder. I think that someone broke in because the place has a history as a bar. The person either:

a.) assumed it still was a bar and wanted to steal cash from the register or back office during hours of non-operation, or

b.) they knew it was no longer a bar and was now simply a residence, and they wanted to break in so that they could steal cash/valuables/electronics.

If option 'A' is correct, I think the person/people went in there expecting to conduct a thievery spree, but found themselves in a confusing position: suddenly being in a bar-turned-private-residence. To top it off, it's an ex-bar with a stage with *altars* on it, and metaphysical books. Perhaps other occult items in view, too. If the intruder *knows* you, then maybe they were looking for something specific - perhaps even specifically occult. But if the person was a stranger who happens to just be a thief, they may have entered and thought that the occult stuff was fascinating/creepy/suspicious ("ooooh... we're robbing occultists... maybe even members of a Satanic cult!"). So, the could have just ransacked the place looking for cash or valuables or electronics, or maybe even drugs, and when they realized that whatever they were looking for wasn't there... they decided to muck things up a bit, hunt through things just in case they'd see something interesting, or even mess around with your altar items and magical texts. The person may also have been a paranoid and/or mentally ill intruder who knows vaguely of your magical work, and perhaps they thought they had to snoop around for some reason.

If the correct answer is 'B' - much of the above applies, too. Except I think that if they broke in with the intention of stealing, they probably took something that you haven't noticed yet. For instance, a small piece of jewelry; documents that could be used for identity theft; bank information, and the like. The person may be known to you, so the ransacking may seem less disorderly and more unearthly... perhaps intentionally, so that you'd think it was a supernatural event rather than a criminal one. Or, could it be that someone has something against you, and so they're trying to frighten you?

Those are my gut responses....

[Hawk Shadowsoul]

A couple of problems with that one. No doors or windows are broken or jimmied. We have a lot of valuable jewlry in plain sight, none was taken. This place is like a fortress, and the local cops are our friends and keep an eye on the place, and other people know when we're not here and watch it as well.

[Merrilyn]

I'd definitely file a police report about this, IMHO. Who knows what really happened while you were out.. Better to be safe than sorry. Report it. Best wishes, either way.

[DanuMoonrunner]

I really don't believe this was done by a human. My credit card is still laying on my desk and all my jewelry is still here. I really thought it was the dog at first, but she couldn't have moved the books in the way they were moved and the air alter is still in perfect place, just the statues were knocked over. I can just see me filing a police report about knocked over alters and metaphysical books moved about. In this small town they would probably burn me in the park at sunset.

[Lunacie]

Did any of your former employees have (and maybe) keep a door key?