Sweet-Toothed Thieves Break In to Little Red Store

Burglars shattered the window in the back door of Wauwatosa's beloved Little Red Store over the holiday weekend, broke in and made off with goods – or perhaps we'll just say goodies – that might tend to point to juvenile offenders.

At 9:10 a.m. Sunday, the pastor of a small congregation that rents the building at 7720 Harwood Ave. for Sunday morning services called to report the break-in.

Janel Ruzicka, director of the Wauwatosa Historical Society, which operates the building, arrived shortly and told police she had left the place secure at 3:15 p.m. Saturday.

She went through the historic building with officers and said that nothing had been disturbed or damaged, but she found that candy and drinks had been stolen off the counter.

The take was: 10 licorice ropes, one bottle of Coke, two bottles of juice and eight bags of Cracker Jacks, all together worth about $20. The cost to replace the window was estimated at $30.

Police were unable to find any evidence that would lead to any suspects.

The Historical Society operates the Little Red Store as Wauwatosa's visitor information center. Very little is actually sold there besides snacks and children's bicycle helmets.

The Little Red Store, built in 1854, is the oldest commercia building in Wauwatosa, the oldest remaining post office building in Milwaukee County, and has also served throughout the years as a home and doctor's office, railroad station, general store, library, harness shop, grocery, plumbing shop and oil company.

It was donated to the city by Charles Jacobus in 1987 as part of a land sale, and has since been restored through grants and donations.