ALGOMA, Wis. (WFRV) – A statewide alert was issued for Wisconsin after an Algoma home was burglarized on Wednesday. Authorities say the suspects, possibly tied to a nationwide criminal network that targets jewelry store owners, stole over $100,000 worth of cash and valuables from the victims.
According to a release from the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, the victims reportedly noticed a suspicious vehicle outside their home around 1:50 p.m. on May 1. The vehicle was described as a newer Toyota Highlander, silver or light grey with what were believed to be Louisiana license plates.
The victim’s home on Sheboygan Street is described as being in a secluded area of Algoma with ‘higher-value homes.’
The victims told authorities that they noticed the vehicle as they were leaving and described the driver as being “a possibly Black or Hispanic man in his 30s with either very short hair or a shaved head.”
Deputies noted that the driver of the suspicious vehicle is believed to be the getaway driver and lookout.
Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office
Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office
Authorities say the burglary took place shortly after they left their home. When they returned, they reportedly noticed that the suspect or suspects got into the home through a rear patio door. The master bedroom was found to be ransacked and a small safe was also allegedly pried open.
The victims, who are described by authorities as being the owners of two jewelry stores that also manufacture jewelry inside of their home, reported that the stolen cash and jewelry was valued at over $100,000. A Louis Vuitton purse with $5,000 in cash inside of it was also stolen from the safe.
Authorities believe the incident to be part of a nationwide criminal network that targets Asian Jewelry store owners by following them home, and later burglarizing them of cash, Jewelry, and designer purses.
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The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office stated that this stems back to at least 2020, including numerous homes in the Omaha, Nebraska area. In those incidents, the suspects were identified as operating out of Houston, Texas, and are possibly originally from Honduras.
The suspects are sophisticated, minimizing cellphone use, and also using WiFi disabling equipment so WiFi-based cameras do not detect them on video. Two WiFi-based Ring doorbell cameras were disabled during the act of the burglary and no video was captured whatsoever. The suspects have been identified as staying at Hampton Inns. Coincidentally, the jewelry store in our jurisdiction is positioned directly next door to a Hampton Inn.
Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office
It was also noted that a similar burglary ring was discovered and broken up in Massachusetts in 2018 with multiple suspects being indicted on 95 counts of home invasion burglaries.
No other information was provided. Local 5 will update this story when additional details are released.
