Three people from Milwaukee who reportedly burglarized a home in the town of Ashippun Friday morning were arrested less than 30 minutes later in Washington County while they tried to break into a second home, according to police.
Two women, ages 25 and 29, and a 20-year-old man are being held in Washington County Jail on suspicion of burglary, according to a release from the Dodge County Sheriff's Department.
An Ashippun man reported at 10:30 a.m. Friday that he saw the three adults break into his neighbor's home and load items into an unfamiliar vehicle. The man provided police with a detailed description of the suspects and their vehicle; soon the Dodge and Washington County sheriff's departments, with help from Oconomowoc and Hartford police, were canvassing the area for the suspects.
It didn't take long for them to strike again, according to police.
Twenty-five minutes after the initial burglary, the trio targeted the home of an off-duty police officer in Washington County. A Dodge County Sheriff's deputy confronted the suspects as they reportedly were trying to kick in the front door of the home.
The off-duty officer who owns the house was awakened by the noise and was dialing 911 when the deputy arrived.
"It is a classic case of a quick, saturated response by multiple county and out-of-county agencies. The level of communication and cooperation, coupled with the neighbor's call provided the information needed to make the arrests. Our 911 center did a fantastic job," said Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls.
Police have notified all law enforcement agencies in Southeast Wisconsin and have found that the trio is suspected of multiple burglaries in multiple jurisdictions, according to the release.
With the suspects behind bars, police are urging citizens to become familiar with their neighbors and the vehicles they drive so suspicious activity can be reported.
"Had this occurred in a neighborhood where nobody cares, we would have several victims, large insurance claims, community fear and no arrests," Nehls said. "Today was a good day for us."
Nehls noted that more burglaries in the area could be reported when people returned home from work Friday evening.
The three suspects will remain in Washington County Jail until they can be brought to Dodge County to face burglary charges. Police have not yet released their names.