"People are getting killed:" Dealership break-ins keep happening; 2 more early Wednesday
MILWAUKEE -- A group of six young men, accused in multiple car dealership break-ins in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties was charged this week -- but the crime spree continues.Two more break-ins occurred early Wednesday morning, October 25th.
It just keeps happening.
Cars stolen from dealerships are sometimes involved in violent crashes that injure innocent people. One burglary victim is working on a solution.
The damage at the Russ Darrow Mazda dealership near North 113th and Good Hope was extensive Wednesday. Police said around 2:55 a.m., electronics and at least one vehicle were stolen.
Hansen
Milwaukee police said the Russ Darrow dealership on North 76th was also broken into Wednesday morning, around 2:35 a.m.
"They don't know how to drive. They're driving at high rates of speed. People are getting killed," said Tim Hansen.
On September 21st, Hansen's dealership on North 76th was broken into. It was the third time. Burglars never got any cars because keys are not kept on-site. Hansen said oftentimes, juveniles are released soon after they are arrested.
Russ Darrow dealership on North 76th
"We're not doing them any real service by letting them out right away. We need to spend money up front and fix the problem," said Hansen.
On October 20th, six Milwaukee teens were charged with various crimes -- after car dealership burglaries, high-speed chases and crashes over the last two months.
Hansen said car dealers have been meeting with the district attorney's office, police and the mayor's office.
"The collateral damage of all this is just staggering. The dealers getting broken windows, stolen cars, vandalism -- smashing into innocent people out on the road with stolen cars," said Hansen.
Hansen pointed to the troubled Lincoln Hills facility, where many of Milwaukee's juvenile offenders are housed, as part of the problem. He said there are not enough adequate places to put young car thieves once they are caught.
"This is not a huge group of people," said Hansen. "I think we can isolate the group, provide the services that are needed -- whether incarcerating them or assisting them back into normal society. We need to do that and I don't think we're doing that."
The suspects involved in Wednesday morning's crimes are not yet in custody.
