From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishransackran‧sack /ˈrænsæk/ verb [transitive] 1 STEALto go through a place, stealing things and causing damage The whole flat had been ransacked.2 LOOK FORto search a place very thoroughly, often making it untidyransack something for something She ransacked the wardrobe for something to wear.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
ransack• Roth found his home had been ransacked by burglars.• The newspaper's offices were ransacked by members of the secret police.• Their house is ransacked by monkeys, flooded, and occupied by a variety of wild and dangerous animals.• The whole neighborhood was ransacked for milk, butter, eggs, poultry, etc..• Every charcuterie in town had been ransacked in order to provide something palatable.• Post-war euphoria, when the Big House ransacked its rose-garden and all the village wore roses.• She ransacked the dresser drawer, looking for the ring.• Thieves broke in and ransacked the house.• And while Mr Stevens's bride was keeping a round-the-clock at his hospital bedside, burglars ransacked their home.Origin ransack (1200-1300) Old Norse rannsaka, from rann “house” + -saka “to search” 