Man arrested for stealing car, then breaking into house

After stealing candy and a car from a local business, a 19-year-old Brookfield man broke into a home in the 17000 block of Vanderbilt Street, startling the homeowners who walked in on the burglary, Brookfield police said.

Joshua P. Carson, 19, was held on a $7,500 cash bond after an initial appearance in Waukesha County Circuit Court on charges of burglary with a dangerous weapon, burglary and driving a vehicle without the owner's consent Monday.

According to a police report, on Saturday Carson broke into Griswold Automotive, 18780 W. Burleigh Road, through an office window and stole a 1993 Ford Explorer.

Police Capt. Jim Adlam said Carson then drove the stolen vehicle to the home on Vanderbilt and broke in. The homeowner returned home just before 10 p.m. and found Carson in the house with guns from the home laid out on the floor.

Upon confrontation, the man ran away, Adlam said, but Brookfield police officers arrested him just a short time later, with the assistance of the Butler police dog.

"We're trying to tie him to other break-ins in the area, but he doesn't appear to be responsible for the daytime home invasions," Adlam said.

Five daytime break-ins have been reported in the city in recent weeks, the most recent on Saturday.

According to the police report:

The perpetrator kicked in a breezeway door in a home in the 100 block of Elm Grove Road between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. and took a laptop computer, a television and jewelry.

Loss is estimated at $3,700.

Brookfield police also investigated a break-in at Frame and Axle Service, 4220 N. 126th St., which occurred Friday or Saturday night.

In that case, the perpetrator entered the business through a shattered window and left through the front door with a cash box, according to the police report.

No estimate of loss was available as of Monday.