HOME BURGLARIES WITH VEHICLES STOLEN

1 SUSPECT UNDER ARREST

The Madison Police Department is currently investigating several home burglaries where money, credit cards, and electronics are not only being targeted, but car keys. Victim's vehicles are being driven away by the criminal or criminals. There have been four similar cases in the past week. • On the morning of Friday, November 19th, a 27-year old Spruce Street resident contacted the MPD after someone entered his home overnight while he and two others slept. The victim said he got up at 4:30 a.m. to find an outside rear door wide open. Later he discovered his wallet, car keys, and Honda Civic gone. Entry appeared to have been made through an unlocked kitchen window. The victim's car was recovered early this morning, November 23rd, around 1:50 a.m. after a Town of Madison police sergeant found it in a Capitol View Terrace parking lot. • Early in the morning of Sunday, November 21st, a 69-year old man and 56-year old woman awoke to find their home on Vale Circle to be very cold. They investigated and found a rear screen door wide open. Their home had been burglarized. Among items missing were bank cards, and electronics. Once again car keys had also been stolen, and the couple's Honda Accord and Honda CRV were gone. It appeared entry had been made through an unlocked door. Yesterday morning, November 22nd, the couple's vehicles were found in a parking lot in the 1100 block of Ann Street. • Early yesterday morning, November 22nd, a 53-year old man contacted the MPD around 7:25 a.m. after finding his Pelham Road home in Arbor Hills had been entered overnight while his family slept. Once again, the house was very cold as the front door was wide open and a back door ajar. There were no signs of forced entry. Stolen were electronics, a purse, and car keys. The family's Chrysler Pacifica was missing. It was recovered yesterday evening, November 22nd, around 7:50 p.m. at a Town of Madison apartment building parking lot, in the 2800 block of Coventry Trail. • Last night, November 22nd, a 27-year old Drake Street resident called for police around 11:40 p.m. after a burglar entered her home through a back door while she was in her bedroom. Her purse, electronic gaming equipment, and her Chevrolet Monte Carlo were among items taken. Shortly after the crime, a Town of Madison Police sergeant spotted the stolen Monte Carlo in the area of Capitol View Terrace. This evolved into a pursuit, and dragnet (see Incident Report #2010-336562) where Madison Police dog Gildon was able to track the suspect to a backyard garden shed in the 4700 block of Spaanem Avenue. A suspect, Mr. Telvin Johnson, age 19, Madison was found hiding inside. He was arrested for Burglary - Party To A Crime - and Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Owner's consent. Investigations into all of these cases are ongoing. It is not known whether they are linked, but there are sufficient similarities that the MPD believes it is prudent to alert citizens to these recent crimes. Citizens are advised to take reasonable precautions to secure homes. As has been noted here, many burglary cases involve criminals getting into homes through unlocked doors and windows. The MPD would also encourage citizens to continue to call 911 immediately if they are victimized, or if they see suspicious individuals or vehicles in their neighborhoods. It was because of the fast actions of the Drake Street victim - the quick call to 911 with vehicle description etc. - that law enforcement was able to get the information needed to put one suspect behind bars.