[Sherlock]

and the only way an intruder could know he could get in, is if he was tipped in advance that the garage door would be left open.

The reason the intruder went through the charade of putting the chair at the window and cutting the screen was because he knew the fact he had a key, knew the family didn't use the alarm, and knew he could use the key to walk in the front door would lead police to his accomplice and planner of the kidnapping, Ricci. Ricci knew the police would be coming to visit him anyway.

The police would know, as someone who had access to the house for an extended period, Ricci would have had opportunity, as Ed Smart has said, to have gotten a key. Who else would have tried to hide the fact they came in the front door with a key? Uncle Tom Smart? The Mormon bishop? No, it was a Ricci accomplice, to be sure, executing Ricci's plan and covering for Ricci.

[jandji]

why do you think ricci is a criminal genius? we know he is a common repeat offender, a drug user, a thief, etc. but he is not ted bundy or the zodiac killer. he is a doofus. look at his actual criminal record. he gets caught over and over doing stupid things. and during his 30yr criminal hiatus, all the while using drugs, he couldn't have gotten smarter. could he?

[jandji]

ricci knew the police would be looking at him, so why bring the jeep back to moul. especially windows down, all sweaty, mud covered. ricci worked saturday till at least 5pm. that jeep has an air conditioner. if the jeep was functional when ricci supposedly took it from the repair shop, why would he take it back?

[jandji]

"Ricci would have had opportunity, as Ed Smart has said, to have gotten a key."

ricci hadn't been in the smart house for a year. ed also said he never gave any of the workers keys. so ricci would have to find a set of keys, take them, copy them, slip the keys back into the house. hope that the keys would still work a year later, despite the fact the smart's had been ripped off by the workers. and also know the alarm system would be shut off.