Marathon County Sheriff Chad Billeb. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Marathon County Sheriff Chad Billeb encourages everyone to keep their vehicles locked and valuables out of sight after a series of smash-and-grab robberies in Menomonie.
Billeb calls these crimes “crimes of opportunity,” adding that the perps are often looking through parking lots to find things like credit and debit cards that are visible through a vehicle’s windows. “These will often happen at parks, or a gym say if you’re working out. Maybe a doctor’s office, somewhere there won’t be many people in the parking lot.”
A smash-and-grab involves breaking the card’s windows with a hammer or other tool and taking whatever is within reach. Billeb says if the thieves manage to get their hands on credit or debit cards, they’ll immediately turn around and treat themselves at the nearest big-box store.
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“We’ve all done with our own cards. They get in, make a purchase, and get out. Then they move on to the next community,” says Billeb. “We had this happen here earlier this year in Rib Mountain. we are not immune to it in Central Wisconsin.”
Billeb says residents can protect themselves by always keeping their credit or debit cards with them. If you do have to store them in your vehicle, place them in the glove box or center console where they’ll be out of sight and out of mind. He adds that everyone should keep their doors locked at all times to prevent thieves from having easy access to anything in their vehicle.
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