Sorry to hear about your loss. If I remember right your location used to be Boulder Creek, up in mountains near here. I used to have a very remote cabin property in N. Calif (50 miles from nearest freeway) and when it closed escrow I went to get the keys. But they said I could not have them. So I asked why not, and they said that the owners had not locked the place in years so they did not know where the keys were anymore.
One would think remoteness would be more prone to ripoffs, but here in the city I've had cars broken into and one car stolen with all my tools (did get car back eventually). Although never got anything stolen at that cabin, I too did work with the police and D.A. concerning other matters there... One of the bravest men I've ever known is one of the cops up there I worked with. I'll never forget that guy. Can't say that for all the citizens and "authorities" there. Corruption has a long reaching food chain when drugs and the money involved runs rampant, because no one is willing to do anything about it. And instead, most everyone just looks the other way without getting involved...
So then perhaps due to the resulting discouragement, some cops give up or turn bad. But then again some cops are encouraged in their work when just one citizen is willing to help pursue (within the law) stopping the downhill slide in their neighborhood. This I know as an absolute fact.
Having a nice family can be a true blessing. Wishing you a merry Christmas.