Escaping and Returning to cage

[Presley524]

So, a few nights ago, I started to hear frantic scratching on cardboard coming from next to Presley's cage. Almost immediately I knew she escaped. (I now have a temporary fix on her cage and am ordering a new cover) She was out for maybe 5-10 minutes. I know this because about 10 minutes before that, I was watching her run on her wheel. All was good... or so I thought. Night before last, I moved my bedroom around and behind my bed was hamster poop and the carpet was ripped up in a tiny spot. (My bed is across the room from her cage.) I also saw her or heard her every night in the cage. The stuff next to her cage I suppose could have been used to climb back up, it wouldn't have been easy, but possible. I'm assuming she likes her cage but also wanted to explore if she kept going back. I basically had a free roam hamster without even knowing it!
Has this happened to anyone else?

[Nikkid]

I have experienced the same. My sons hamster escaped from top house above cage, and chewed a few things in the room. I hadn't even known he escaped, but the next day, the wire door holding in top hidey hole was open and he was asleep inside. I found the chewed items later and it blew my mind. How'd he get himself back in the cage? They are better climbers than first thought!