The first inkling the Julihn family had that they were having a yard sale was the tinkling of coins early July 29.

"Sawyer was playing on the porch and I was watching the Olympics," said Derian Julihn about his Sunday morning. "I heard coins dropping in a jar."

He walked outside to find a yard sale on his front lawn in the 6900 block of 195A Street.

The family was stumped. They didn't recognize the items as being from the home of someone they knew. Someone took the time to lay the goods out on mats and even post signs around the neighbourhood.

"I've knocked on my neighbours' doors," Derian said.

The stuff didn't belong to them and one neighbour reported that he saw the stuff out there at about 1: 30 a.m. Sunday.

"I've checked with my friends who I thought might have done this as a prank," he added.

That didn't solve the mystery. Still, they weren't going to go all CSI on the caper.

They would later find out there was even a posting on CraigsList saying "Everything for $1" and giving their address.

Derian figures that someone will come clean about who bestowed a yard sale on the young family of four.

They discovered the power of promotion, with lots of vehicles heading to their cul de sac to check out the deals.

Honest shoppers even left about $10 in the pay jar, which the parents said would use to enjoy a couple of fancy coffees.

The Julihns posted a sign that everything there was free to help clear stuff away quicker and said they would take the remnants to a thrift shop.

hcolpitts@langleyadvance.com