"We started locking our doors:" Police have a lead after more than a dozen guns stolen in South Milwaukee
“We started locking our doors:” Police have a lead after more than a dozen guns stolen in South Milwaukee
"We started locking our doors:" Police have a lead after more than a dozen guns stolen in South Milwaukee
SOUTH MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Guns are missing from a South Milwaukee man's home -- 13 in all. They were stolen, along with several electronics. Police have a lead on who is responsible, and they owe it all to a cell phone.
No formal charges have been filed in this case yet, but two departments, including South Milwaukee's Police Department have teamed up to try to find at least one burglar.
In the South Milwaukee community near Chicago and Aspen, a moving violation is more likely than a home violation -- according to neighbor Michael Stritchko said.
Around July 6th, however, a burglar or burglars raided a home in the area -- busting through the front door.
"I should have recognized that being right across the street -- I have a dog. The dog didn't bark. I didn't see anything unusual," Stritchko said.
Court documents show electronics were taken as well as 13 firearms. Most are rifles or shotguns used for hunting.
The estimated loss totals more than $10,000.
"That's horrible," Stritchko said.
Days later, traffic helped to break the case.
The victim in an unrelated armed robbery noticed the license plate of a car. Police traced it to an address in Cudahy.
Law enforcement officials eventually executed a "no knock" search warrant.
While officers didn't recover any guns, prior to the raid, they searched a cell phone from a person living at the home. Court documents say there was a picture of a teen holding what could be one of the missing guns on the phone.
On the same phone were messages with the address of the burglarized home, and the phrase "bring gloves," and "we got like, six shotguns."
The investigation into the break-in continues, but the sense of violation continues to be felt throughout the neighborhood.
"We've never locked our door, and we started locking our doors," Stritchko said.
It is believed the burglary took place when the victim was out of town, and it's possible the crooks were familiar with that victim. That is another thing police are looking into.