Police Beat: Officer Catches Metal Thieves in the Act

A Menomonee Falls police officer caught two women and a man from Milwaukee red-handed in the act of stealing from Intren Corporation on Reichert Avenue.

A 27-year-old woman, a 47-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man were arrested Saturday after attempting to steal aluminum pulleys from Intren, N57W13640 Reichert Ave.

An officer observed the three suspects taking 25 pulleys from a storage bin behind Intren at 8:39 a.m. Saturday. The business at the time was closed, so the officer detained the three suspects.

The trio told the officer they believed the metal pulleys were scrap, and thought they didn’t need permission to remove the pulleys. A representative from Intren said the pulleys were not scrap metal, but were useable tools belonging to the company. All 25 pulleys, valued at $3,750, were recovered an returned.

The three suspects told police they intended to sell the pulleys as scrap metal. All three suspects were charged with one count of felony theft. They were transported to the Waukesha County Jail at approximately 2:30 p.m.

Also in the reports:

• Between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. March 17, an unknown person stole a 50-year-old man’s wallet while working at , N60W15124 Bobolink Ave. The suspect used the man’s credit card to purchase $75 in gasoline.
• Police responded to a shoplifting complaint at 1:45 p.m. March 13 at the BP gas station, N86W16317 Appleton Ave. After viewing surveillance video, an employee identified a white male placing a bottle of Bacardi inside his jacket and walking out of the store.
• Between 4 p.m. March 18 and Noon March 21, an unknown person drove onto the infield and outfield of the baseball diamond between Thomas Jefferson School, W165N8301 Lavergne Ave.,  and left ruts in the field. No evidence was found at the scene.
• A 66-year-old woman’s coin purse was stolen at 12:15 p.m. March 22 from the U.S. Post Office, W173N9170 Saint Francis Dr. The woman left her wallet on a counter at the office, and was taken. The coin purse contained $15 and several credit cards.
• At 6:36 p.m. March 22, an unknown black male pumped 10.38 gallons of gasoline and left without paying at Woodman’s gas station, W124N8233 Highway 145. The vehicle had temporary plates, and officers are following up with the dealer to find out who the plates were issued to.
• On March 23 at 7:15 p.m. an unknown suspect pumped $34.40 worth of gasoline from the Clark gas station, N85W16198 Appleton Ave., and left without paying. A clerk at the station chased the driver and pounded on the driver’s side window to get him to stop. There were no plates on the vehicle.
• Between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. March 22, 52-year-old woman’s purse was stolen from BCI Roofing, W146N5805 Enterprise Dr. The woman said the suspect entered the business while all the employees were in a meeting in the back room. Two purchases totaling $427.92 were charged to two of her stolen credit cards. The purse also contained $50 and several other cards.
• Three separate gas drive-offs occurred between 2:04 p.m. and 2:18 p.m. March 24 at the gas station, N87W17245 Main St. One of the vehicles was located at Main Street and Fond Du Lac Avenue. The driver, a 17-year-old Milwaukee girl, and her passenger were arrested and cited for theft.
• An officer discovered graffiti painted on the bridge at Town Line and Mill Road at 8:01 p.m. March 25. The graffiti was likely painted the previous night. The suspect or suspects painted “Aswopp,” “Kiss our class goodby ’11,” “Hot-urnot,” “2011 4P,” and “Moop, Crane and Flava” on the bridge.