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Crime & Safety

Man Charged After Bungled Cigarette Burglary

The suspect tried to break into Forest Home Liquor to steal a carton of cigarettes, but was unable to kick the glass door open and then got arrested less than a half hour later for something else.

A 25-year-olf Greenfield man is facing charges after he allegedly tried to kick in a liquor store door so he could steal a carton of cigarettes.

Joseph J. Erie was charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on Wednesday with one count of attempted burglary. If convicted he faces up to six years and three months in prison, and $12,500 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

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On April 1, a Greenfield police officer on patrol noticed a glass door was cracked on the front of in the 5600 block of West Forest Home Avenue. He contacted the owner who said the door was fine when he closed at 9 p.m. the night before.

Police reviewed security footage and saw Erie try to open a side door at 9:21 p.m., but was unsuccessful. He then went to the glass front door and tried to kick it open, also without success.

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He then threw an object at the door causing the glass to crack in a spider web fashion, and began to kick at it again, but still couldn’t get the door open. At 9:27 p.m. he eventually gave up and he was arrested at 10 p.m. for an unrelated matter in the 5400 block of West Forest Home Avenue.

Officers identified Erie as the man in the surveillance footage and he admitted to the crime, saying he wanted to try and steal a carton of cigarettes.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 11 in the case.

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