Car break-ins for April double in 2021, neighbors fed up

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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The number of car break-ins is skyrocketing across Milwaukee.

Dozens of cars parked in the Brewer’s Hill, Harambee, Halyard Park and Riverwest neighborhoods had windows smashed over the last several weeks.

CBS 58 spoke to one homeowner who caught several break-ins on a Ring doorbell camera. One shows a suspect smashing the windows of a Jeep. In another video, two cars pull into an apartment parking lot and you can hear windows being smashed.

“I moved here, it was super quiet and now I go to sleep and have to wonder if that car door outside that opens and closes is someone breaking in,” the man, who did not want to be identified, said.

The man who captured the video says this is just one of several incidents in the last few months. He’s given at least five videos to police.

“Some of the cars in these lots, I know for a fact they’ve gone through two or three getting side windows replaced,” he said.

Chris Ovide, who lives in Brewer’s Hill, had his car stolen two months ago. He got it back, then a month later, the windows were smashed.

“If you come outside you have to be ready to experience Fthe fact your car might be stolen or smashed,” Ovide said. “It cost me about $300.”

It happened to Jason Black too.

“They smashed the driver’s side window,” Black said. “It’s manual so they weren’t even trying to steal it.”

According to Milwaukee police, between April 1 and May 10 there were 525 theft from auto cases. There were only 204 during the same time period in 2020.

Neighbors say it usually happens between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. but it’s also happening in daylight. One video shows a break-in just before 7 a.m.

The man who captured the videos wants more people to get cameras and car alarms. But he adds he’s tired of worrying and plans to sell his truck altogether.

“The peace of mind you lose is super irritating,” he said.

In a statement, Ald. Milele Coggs asked for the public’s help finding the people responsible. She’s calling on people with information or video footage to come forward to police or to contact her office.

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