Seven burglaries between Thursday and Saturday this week left Wauwatosa residents missing thousands of dollars, electronics, jewelry, and other items.
Breaking windows, prying open doors, and cutting fences, burglars hit three homes, the Enclave construction site, the Catholic Social Service Center, Hansen Golf Course, and Famous Cigars.
Thursday
At 8:55 p.m., a resident of the 2600 block of North 63rd Street reported that some time since 6 p.m. his home had been broken into and nearly $4,000 worth of property had been stolen. He had gone out and when he returned noticed the family cat outside, then saw that the front door was standing open. Police determined that the burglar or burglars had entered through an unlocked rear window. A computer and other electronics and a box of jewelry were taken.
A resident of the 4100 block of North 92nd Street reported that some time between 10:20 a.m. and 12:40 p.m. someone had broken into his home. He returned home to find that the screen had been pulled off and an unlocked window opened. He said his wife, a third-shift worker, had been home asleep upstairs during the burglary. The only room disturbed was the downstairs home office. Two laptop computers, a projector and a suitcase were taken.
Between 5 p.m. Wednesday and 7 a.m. Thursday, the Catholic Social Service Center, 2021 N. 60th St., was broken into and cash was stolen from a desk drawer. The home services director arrived in the morning to find that her office door had been pried open and that file cabinets had been rifled. She alerted others and it was found that at least one other office had been broken into and that cash had been stolen. A custodian told police he had found outer doors unlocked that were usually locked when he arrived, but he had not realized there had been a break-in.
The site manager of the Enclave construction site reported that overnight someone had broken into the site by cutting the fence and had attempted to steal duct pipe and tools that were found just inside the fence. He said he thought the thieves must have been scared off.
Friday
At 7:38 a.m. Friday, an employee of Hansen Golf Course reported that overnight the clubhouse at 9800 Underwood Parkway had been broken into and three cases of beer and a cash register key had been stolen. A window had been broken to gain entry. The cash register had been left empty with the drawer open; it was found closed.
Saturday
At 1:50 p.m. Saturday, a resident of the 3300 block of North Knoll Terrace reported that some time since 11 a.m. someone had broken into her home. She had gone out with her children and left the house securely locked, she said, but after returning noticed it was cold inside and then found a window open and the screen removed. She then found a back door unlocked. However, she found nothing missing or disturbed. While waiting for police to arrive, she noticed a suspicious car driving down her block. Police thought it was probable that the burglars had been in the home when she returned and had slipped out the back door.
Some time overnight Friday or Saturday, someone broke into Famous Cigars, 7030 W. North Ave., and stole cash from the register. The back door had been kicked in and a soda machine was damaged in an apparent attempt to break it open for money, but no merchandise was taken.
