The Milwaukee Post

Alleged Craigslist car theft in New Berlin mirrors several others in metro area NEW BERLIN — New Berlin police are investigating the phone records of a man sus- pected to have driven off in a car that was advertised for sale on Craigslist and crashed six days later, according to a search warrant filed in Waukesha County Circuit Court last week. According to the warrant, a New Berlin man reported his 1999 BMW had been stolen by a man who had come to see the vehicle on June 26. Before arriving, the suspect called the car owner's phone twice asking questions about the vehicle, which had been posted for sale on Craigslist. While asking the owner about the brakes and engine, the suspect ran to the BMW and drove away, followed by the vehicle that dropped him off, according to the warrant. On July 2, Milwaukee police responded to a crash involving the BMW and a parked vehicle. Police departments from other communities, including Thiensville, Mount Pleasant, Franklin, Muskego, South Milwaukee, West Allis and Wauwatosa, reported they had seen similar incidents involving a vehicle that was stolen after it had been advertised on Craigslist. West Allis and Franklin police said the suspects in similar incidents had used the same cellphone number as the one involved in the New Berlin theft. — Conley News Service 4 • Milwaukee County Post • November 27, 2015 WEEK IN REVIEW STATE AND LOCAL STORIES OF INTEREST Contractor charged with theft in home repair WAUKESHA — A Milwaukee man has been charged after he allegedly took a down payment for half of a $6,975 job on the home of a Menomonee Falls couple and then failed to do the work. Jeffrey Starszak, doing business as J.K. & Sons, was charged Nov. 18 in Waukesha County Circuit Court with theft by contractor, plus violating state codes regarding home improvement contracts in that he allegedly failed to provide a copy of the contract to the buyer and failed to return payment to the buyer upon written demand. If convicted of all counts, he faces up to 5 1/2 years in prison. He is due in court Dec. 21. 10 arrested in Sheriff's campaign against drunk driving MILWAUKEE — Ten drivers were arrested for operating while intoxicated over the weekend as part of a crackdown by the sheriff on drunken driving. The average prelim- inary breath test result was 0.15, the Sheriff's Office reported. Two men were arrested for an alleged third OWI: Juan Montejano, 34, of Milwaukee and Bryan Smith, 38, of West Allis. MPD: Man who allegedly stole dog is also charged with first-degree murder MILWAUKEE — Police are asking for the public's help in locating a missing dog that was allegedly stolen by the same suspect who has been charged with an abduction of a 3- year-old child. Jumal L. Lipscomb, 32, is facing charges of attempted first-degree inten- tional homicide, forceful abduction of a child and robbery with use of force, stemming from incidents Nov. 15. Before the abduction of the child, Lipscomb was suspected of committing a strong- armed robbery at 1:45 p.m. that same day in the 3000 block of North 61st Street. Police said Lipscomb approached the victim, a 72-year-old Milwaukee man, and stole his 2000 GMC Safari minivan and a 7-year-old Chihuahua named Joey. The minivan was found later that day near where the abduction happened in the 4900 block of West Chambers Street but the dog was not inside, police reported. Anyone with information is asked to call Milwaukee police at 414-935-736 More sought in East Side carjacking spree MILWAUKEE — The Police Department has arrested four teens in connection with a series of carjackings and attempted carjackings that have occurred on the city's East Side. Working with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee police and Shorewood police, the department said more arrests are expected soon. Police caution members of the public to be aware of their surroundings, and report any suspicious activity immediately. This series of offenses began earlier this month, and there have been no serious injuries reported as a result of these crimes. The crimes occurred: Nov. 5 in the 3000 block of North Prospect Avenue and in the 1700 block of East Newton Avenue, Shorewood; Nov. 6 in the 1800 block of North Warren Street; Nov. 8 in the 2000 block of North Summit Avenue, in the 2600 block of North Summit Avenue and in the 2500 block of East Locust Street; Nov. 15 in the 2700 block of East Menlo Boulevard, Shorewood; and Nov. 15 in the 1100 block of East Hamilton Street. Police ask anyone with more information about the crime spree to contact MPD District 1 at 414-935-7211 or emoore@milwaukee.gov. South Milwaukee mover allegedly stole wedding rings WAUKESHA — An employee of a moving company faces felony theft charges after allegedly stealing wedding rings from a Muskego couple. Adam Kruske, 38, of South Milwaukee, was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court last week with the theft of movable property. If convicted, he faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison. According to the criminal complaint, the Muskego couple reported their wedding rings missing from their bathroom vanity around the time that carpet installers and movers had been in their house. Investigators later discovered that a woman's wedding ring had been sold at a Milwaukee pawn shop. The seller of the ring said he had received it from Kruske, who works for the moving company, and that they both had received about $265 for the ring. It was valued at about $4,000. Kruske is due in court Dec. 21. Sheriff issues safe winter travel reminder MILWAUKEE — With the storm that dropped almost 7 inches on parts of Milwaukee County, Sheriff David A. Clarke Jr. reminds area reminds motorists of holiday and win- ter safe travel tips that revolve around defensive driving. They include: ■ Wear your seat belt and buckle children into approved child safety seats. ■ Don't speed. Drive at speeds appropriate for conditions. Posted speed limits are for ideal conditions, and drivers should slow down and allow more stopping distance if con- ditions are wet, icy, slushy or snowy. ■ Avoid distracted driving behaviors that endanger safety: texting, using a cellphone, eating or drinking, and reading. Keep hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. ■ Don't drive drunk or impaired. ■ Allow more time to get to your destination safely when conditions warrant it. ■ Turn on headlights in rainy or snowy conditions. ■ Never use cruise control on slippery roads. ■ Properly maintain your vehicle (tires, brakes, fluid levels, wipers, etc.). Keep an ice scraper in your vehicle. ■ If involved in a crash, do not stand or walk in traffic lanes. Stay in your vehicle with your seat belt on, call 9-1-1 and advise dispatch of any injuries, and wait until emergency responders arrive. If you must leave your vehicle (car fire, dangerous location), get away from the freeway. Clarke said, "Drive like you've done this before. Watch out for law enforcement offi- cers who are stopped on the road." The law requires drivers to move over at least one lane when passing a stopped emer- gency vehicle or tow truck. If this cannot be done safely, then motorists must slow down to 40 mph. Man charged in fatal hit-and-run on South Side MILWAUKEE — Andrew Emer, 73, was charged Nov. 19 with one count of hit-and-run resulting in death following a crash on the South Side. Police said Emer was driving a northbound van on South Layton Boulevard when he struck David Montanez, 64, who was crossing westbound on West Rogers Street shortly after 5 p.m. Nov. 17. Emer reportedly fled the scene from where Montanez just exited a Milwaukee County Transit bus. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries, police said. Emer was found a short distance away at a nearby home, police said.

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