String of car break-ins near Fiserv Forum has residents, visitors on high alert

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A string of car break-ins in downtown Milwaukee over the weekend has residents and visitors on high alert.

Milwaukee police say 15 cars were broken into and four cars were stolen in the area over the weekend.

One officer said several officers were working all night Saturday and into Sunday morning filing reports. Polcie say the Fifth Street Parking Structure, next to Fiserv Forum, was the hardest hit. IMPark, the company that owns the garage, did not get back to CBS 58 for comment on the break-ins.

"Definitely an increase in downtown over this past weekend for sure," Robert Koepp said.

At Glass Pro in Milwaukee, president Robert Koepp is busy replacing car windows. At least eight people called to have their window replaced Monday morning. He said this was to be expected.

"There's usually a big increase, vandalism over the holiday weekends. This weekend in particular, more downtown area. A lot of add-on jobs today," he said. "Luckily, we can get the glass and get it installed for the clients today."

CBS 58 also spoke with one man who did not want to go on camera, but he tells us he was at Sunday night's Bucks playoff game when his girlfriend's car was broken into on Cherry Street. Koepp said this is a good reminder to not leave anything in plain sight in your car, even something as simple as a phone charger.

"A lot of times they're looking for laptops, guns, whatever they can get in and sell," he said. "Don't leave anything valuable in it, if they're going to steal it, they're going to get in and steal."