Crime & Safety

Man Burglarized Second-hand Store, during Business Hours, Police Say

A Milwaukee man was charged after police say he was caught on surveillance video slipping into a employee-only room and rummaging through cabinets, drawers and employee's purses.

A 19-year-old Milwaukee man is accused of burglarizing a Greenfield second-hand store during business hours.

Herbert Pirtle was charged Friday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court with felony burglary. If convicted, he could face up to 12 years and six months, or $25,000 in fines, or both.

According to the criminal complaint:

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After a suspicious man was seen leaving a back room marked “employees only” the night before, the store manager at Plato’s Closet called police on May 4. 

The employee told police the man said he was looking for the bathroom when he entered the back room to the store at 7820 West Layton Avenue.

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She showed him to the bathroom and went to check the employee room when she noticed a back exit propped open with a pen. At the time, she said she didn’t see anything missing.

The following morning the store manager checked the store’s surveillance video revealing Pirtle rummaging through cabinets, drawers and employee’s purses, according to the court documents. The video also showed Pirtle prop the back door open with a pen and take $5 in cash. 

Pirtle had sold clothes to the store, which required identification, which police used to identify him, court documents say. Police also created a photo array, and a store employee who helped Pirtle in the store positively identified him as the suspect. 

With Pirtle was on probation for theft, police contacted his parole agent to track his whereabouts. Police responded to his home and through his brother was able to make contact with Pirtle, according to the criminal complaint. 

During questioning, Pirtle said he accidently entered the back room looking for a bathroom. He initially denied rummaging through property, stealing cash or propping the back door, but later said at first it was his intent to steal something, but later realized it was a bad idea given his probation. He said he might have taken a small amount of money, but honestly couldn’t remember taking anything, according to the criminal complaint. 

Pirtle is due in court July 16 for a preliminary hearing, according to online court records. 


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