Up until 9/11, it was unheard of for police to do that. It was entirely illegal for a police officer to enter your home uninvited, withouth a warrant of just cause produced by the courts.

Unfortunately, we live in a NEW country, which enacted the "Patriot Act", which means (in as few words as possible) that the police can do anything they want. All they have to do is throw the caveat of "terrorism" into the mix, and they are now legally allowed to enter a home without a warrant, and to search the premises. As far as I know they still need a warrant in order to actually sieze anything, but that's not a chance I would want to take with my family.

The chain lock is a good idea, and from this point on I would keep your shit a little more well hidden. The fact that it happened to a neighbor shouldn't put you at ease in the LEAST, that just means it's happening to more people than just you and that's even worse.

DAMN THE MAN. That is all.