The Portage County Sheriff's Department is requesting charges of burglary and/or theft against 7 people who are believed to have connections to missing tools, wire, and scrap metals.
The investigation covers 8 incidents in Portage County and numerous incidents in Waupaca County that happened between late fall of 2010 and late fall of 2011.
Between the 7 people, charges requested in Portage County include 8 burglary charges and 17 theft charges. The theft charges are all related to different irrigation system wire thefts. Total losses (including tools, wire, and scrap metal) throughout the investigation are estimated at more than $40,000.
"Wire thefts have been haunting Portage County for years and years and it's been really hard to catch people in the act. They go to less than scrupulous scrap dealers and get much less than the amount of money the stuff is worth", said Portage County Sheriff John Charewicz.
The suspects range in age from 18 to 25-years-old.
The investigation is ongoing. We'll bring you more information as soon as it becomes available to us.
