MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee police are warning people about crooks posing as construction or utility workers trying to break into homes.
The latest attempted theft happened Thursday, May 18 on Tesch Avenue on the city’s south side. Clark Wantoch said he was mowing his lawn we he noticed something suspicious.
"I was cutting the grass and two individuals came walking down our cul-de-sac," Wantoch said.
"They were wearing safety vests and I was wondering what they doing or what they were trying to sell," he continued.
According to Wantoch, the two men were trying to sell his neighbor windows. He said the men went door to door for a while, but they never approached him.
"I finished cutting the grass, [I] was trimming, and I thought , 'Well these guys are going to come to my door to ask me the questions ' and they never did," Wantoch said.
When he no longer saw the two men roaming his block, he went to canvass the area to see where they may have gone. That's when he said he spotted the two men with a crowbar and bandanas covering their faces, while they tried to break into his neighbor's home.
"I just said, 'Are you kidding me? Get out of here!'," he said.
Wantoch said the two men then ran off in two different directions. According to police, home surveillance video captured an image of the suspects in their neon vests and the gray pickup truck they could be driving.
"I'd like see people respect other people's valuables," Wantoch said.
"I know anybody that's out there that wants to steal something, they wouldn't want something stolen from them," he continued.
MPD detectives believe the same suspects may also be responsible for a burglary on South 68th Street and an attempted burglary on South 46th Street, both on May 15.
We Energies says its employees always carry around identification, so residents should ask to see it if a person claiming to be with the company comes to their door. Customers can also call 1-800-242-9137 to verify their identity. The company also has tips to avoid scams on its website.
Police ask that if you have information about the suspects in the photos to call 414-935-7360, or call 911 if they believe a crime in progress.
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