Man charged with burglary, used app to monitor police

Tabiano Avila

RACINE -- 20-year-old Tabiano "Tab" Avila faces charges of burglary and receiving stolen property. This, for allegedly trying to assist in the burglary of a Racine home on Friday, September 14th.

The criminal complaint against Avila indicates he was with two other people on September 14th -- and had intentions to rob a home on Jackson St.

The complaint indicates Avila used an app on his smart phone to monitor police scanner traffic.

"This isn't the first time we've seen this is a rather common thing on the street," said Racine Deputy Police Chief Dave Smetana. "It's more of a modern-day tool for the bad guys to lookout and monitor our radio frequencies to tell if we have been dispatched."

Prosecutors say Avila along with Alberto Galvan, threatened a 13-year-old boy to steal TVs and other items from a home on Jackson St. The home alarm sounded and police were on their way -- getting there just in time to catch one of the suspects running through a backyard nearby.

Smetana says although Avila tried to keep tabs on authorities, the department is proactive and stays one step ahead.

"We've got steps in place and technology in place were using to defeat that so we're not allowing them to hear what we're doing and how we're responding to certain calls," said Smetana.

The criminal complaint against Avila says the two adults involved in this crime used the juvenile because they thought he wouldn't get into trouble -- and could take the rap for them.

Relatives of Avila deny any of his involvement.

If convicted, Avila faces up to 12-and-a-half years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

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