Waupaca man charged with burglary, theft
Joseph M. Johnson, 31. Waupaca, was charged with burglary and theft.
At 1 p.m. Thursday, April 12, Waupaca Police Officer Lisa Benitez was dispatched to the 400 block of Waupaca Street in response to a possible break-in. Johnson's brother had called police and reported that Johnson may have entered their mother's home without permission.
When she arrived at the home, Benitez found that all the doors were locked, but the lights were on in the living room and kitchen. Through the window she could see what appeared to be a mess on the kitchen counter left from making a jam sandwich. Nobody was home.
The following day Benitez patrolled past the home and saw Johnson walking nearby. He was wearing a backpack.
Benitez questioned Johnson about being in his mother's home. According to the criminal complaint, he said he had a key that his mother had hidden where he could find it.
When Benitez asked to see what he had in his backpack, Johnson initially said refused, then opened one of the pouches and showed her a plastic bag with six commemorative pins from the Olympics.
The officer later spoke with Johnson's mother over the phone, who said she had not given him permission to enter her home or take the commemorative pins.
Benitez searched the backpack and found a large quantity of jewelry, including earings, necklaces, rings, tie pins, cuff links, rolls of Indian head nickels and collectable stamps.
At 1 p.m. Thursday, April 12, Waupaca Police Officer Lisa Benitez was dispatched to the 400 block of Waupaca Street in response to a possible break-in. Johnson's brother had called police and reported that Johnson may have entered their mother's home without permission.
When she arrived at the home, Benitez found that all the doors were locked, but the lights were on in the living room and kitchen. Through the window she could see what appeared to be a mess on the kitchen counter left from making a jam sandwich. Nobody was home.
The following day Benitez patrolled past the home and saw Johnson walking nearby. He was wearing a backpack.
Benitez questioned Johnson about being in his mother's home. According to the criminal complaint, he said he had a key that his mother had hidden where he could find it.
When Benitez asked to see what he had in his backpack, Johnson initially said refused, then opened one of the pouches and showed her a plastic bag with six commemorative pins from the Olympics.
The officer later spoke with Johnson's mother over the phone, who said she had not given him permission to enter her home or take the commemorative pins.
Benitez searched the backpack and found a large quantity of jewelry, including earings, necklaces, rings, tie pins, cuff links, rolls of Indian head nickels and collectable stamps.
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