Antonio Z. Andrews, who allegedly broke into several neighborhood homes and garages in September will be in court this week on a felony burglary charge related to the breaking-and-entering spree.
The complaint states that Andrews was in possession of stolen property from six different neighborhoods residences or garages when he was arrested Sept. 13 on the west side of the Wisconsin Humane Society.
Andrews, who celebrated his 54th birthday on Thursday, has been in custody since his arrest on the morning of the burglaries. At the time, he was out of jail on bail on an unrelated misdemeanor theft charge. He was charged in October with a misdemeanor count of receiving or concealing stolen property.
His final pre-trial appearance on the felony charge is scheduled for Tuesday before Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Richard Sankovitz. He is scheduled to enter a plea on the misdemeanor charges on Wednesday before Circuit Judge Mary Triggiano.
Andrews is familiar to police, according to a misdemeanor complaint. When a Wauwatosa police officer was dispatched to investigate a suspicious person complaint in June, the officer stopped Andrews.
“Officer (Michael) Nelson stated that he recognized Andrews as Andrews has had numerous contacts with the police department in the past,” the stolen property complaint said.
Andrews maintained that the silver ipod he was carrying was his, but “when the I-pod was powered on a check of the menu revealed that the words ‘Brad and Cort’s IPOD’ comes up on the display screen.”
The iPod was allegedly stolen from a car parked in a garage in the 4600 block of N. 103rd St., according to the complaint.
Andrews is facing another misdemeanor charge of theft in connection with a May car break-in on Milwaukee’s northwest side. Andrews allegedly stole about $2 in that case, according to the complaint.
Andrews was arrested “and found to have a screwdriver in his left pants pocket and a flashlight in his right pants pocket,” the complaint said. “The defendant also had on his person a large amount of coins — totaling $40.77 and 3 different brand opened cigarett packages, a pink cell phone the he didn’t know the number for and a silver colored ring. Andrews states that he carries the screwdriver for protection and the flashlight is used by him to look into yards.”
Has the neighborhood ever considered a neighborhood watch? So many people in the neighborhood are out there walking every day anyway…it would be a good idea to let criminals know we are keeping an eye out. Since this guy has been locked up since September, it must be someone else breaking into houses on 50th St. and Story Parkway…I get the crime reports and see that the thefts are still happening. Thanks for the update on this guy!