Two Wisconsin men were taken into custody after police say the duo burglarized several vehicles in Antioch neighborhoods early Tuesday morning.
Martell L. Miller, 31, of the 5500 block of 31st Street in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Regis R. Flood-Span, 25, of the 4300 block of 75th Street in Kenosha, Wisconsin, were both charged with three counts of burglary to motor vehicle, a Class 3 felony.
The Antioch Police Department responded around 3 a.m. Tuesday to the Neuhaven neighborhood, which is near Route 173 and Savage Road, for a report of a suspicious person.
A resident reported being woken up by an alert from their motion-activated camera, which showed a subject attempting to enter their vehicle, according to Antioch Police Department Detective Sergeant Charles Smith.
A canine unit from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office assisted in a search of the area but the subject was not able to be located, Smith said.
A police officer was patrolling the neighborhood a few hours later around 6:30 a.m. when they encountered two subjects walking near Deercrest Drive and Walker Drive.
Smith said that one of the subjects matched the description of the suspect in the earlier incident. Neither had a plausible explanation for being in the area, Smith added.
The two men, Flood-Span and Miller, were both taken into custody after officers learned through investigative efforts they were responsible for several car burglaries that occurred in the overnight hours throughout the Neuhaven and Redwing View neighborhoods.
Miller also had an unrelated arrest warrant for theft. A judge ordered the two to be held in the Lake County Jail on a $20,000 bond.
“This is a great example of the positive outcomes that can be achieved when great police work, and alert and engaged residents come together to prevent crime in our community,” Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow said.
Guttschow said that most burglaries involve unlocked cars and these crimes can be prevented through the simple acts of removing valuables and garage door openers, along with making sure the car is locked.
“Allowing a criminal easy access to your remote garage door opener is no different than handing them a key to your front door. Please, take the simple steps mentioned above, to help keep yourself from becoming a victim of this type of crime,” Guttschow said.
The Antioch Police Department said they encourage community members to immediately report any suspicious activity by calling 911.