"They're irreplaceable:" Maintenance man at assisted living facility accused of stealing thousands of items

“They`re irreplaceable:” Maintenance man at assisted living facility accused of stealing thousands of items

"They`re irreplaceable:" Maintenance man at assisted living facility accused of stealing thousands of items

THIENSVILLE -- A maintenance man at an assisted living facility in Thiensville is accused of stealing thousands of items from residents -- with the combined total value believed to be more than $25,000.

Items stolen from Willowbrook Place Assisted Living in Thiensville

The Thiensville Police Department has been turned into a sort-of makeshift museum -- housing a staggering amount of evidence. Some of the items this man is accused of stealing date back to the Civil War, and they are worth a lot of money.

"This space usually houses two squad cars, a UTV and a bunch of other equipment," Lt. Chad Wucherer with the Thiensville Police Department said.

Items stolen from Willowbrook Place Assisted Living in Thiensville

There is now so much evidence being housed at the police department that Lt. Wurcherer said Monday, June 20th he didn't even know where to begin.

"Everything from antique collector firearms to Civil War swords and daggers," Lt. Wurcherer said.

Willowbrook Place Assisted Living and Adult Residential Complex in Thiensville

Police say the items were stolen by 55-year-old Donald Derosier. Since 2011, police say he has worked at the Willowbrook Place Assisted Living and Adult Residential Complex in Thiensville.

"He`s the maintenance man there. He has keys to everybody`s apartment," Lt. Wurcherer said.

In early June, police were alerted to a deceased resident's antique toy collection popping up on eBay. The collector's wife is a resident at Willowbrook. The value of the toy collection is estimated to be around $25,000.

Donald Derosier

Investigators say the seller's screen name was: "DDDER1" and his contact information matched Derosiers. He was allegedly selling the items for pennies on the dollar -- but still making a huge profit.

"$12,000 that he`s made off of the toys -- which is nowhere close to the actual value of the toys," Lt. Wurcherer said.

Items stolen from Willowbrook Place Assisted Living in Thiensville

A search warrant executed at Derosier's Mequon home allegedly yielded even more stolen items.

He has since been charged with theft of movable property -- greater than $10,000.

Items stolen from Willowbrook Place Assisted Living in Thiensville

FOX6 News stopped by Derosier's home on Monday. He declined to comment for this story.

This, as Thiensville police continue to comb through all of the evidence in this case.

"We`ve got a Bible back there. We can`t even date it," Lt. Wurcherer said.

Items stolen from Willowbrook Place Assisted Living in Thiensville

So far, they have only been able to catalog about a third of the stolen goods.

Lt. Wurcherer said he thinks there could be more victims out there who don't even realize their valuables were stolen.

"Some of them weren`t just antiques -- they were irreplaceable," Lt. Wurcherer said.

Items stolen from Willowbrook Place Assisted Living in Thiensville

Family members of residents tell FOX6 News all of the locks have been changed in the building at the assisted living facility.

Police say Derosier is suspended from his position there, pending the outcome of this investigation.

Police are working with eBay to try to recover some of the items that were sold.

Items stolen from Willowbrook Place Assisted Living in Thiensville

Derosier made his initial appearance in court in this case on June 17th. He is out on $2,500 cash bond. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 23rd.