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Crime & Safety

Man Charged with Theft After Restoration Project Isn't Completed

Alleged victim paid out more than $21,000 to Waukesha business to have 1966 Chevrolet Corvair restored.

A 47-year-old Milwaukee man is facing theft charges for allegedly failing to restore another man’s 1966 Chevrolet Corvair, but still collecting money for the project.

Tomislav L. Ljujic was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Thursday with one count of theft from a business setting valued at more than $10,000. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and $25,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, Ljujic, who owns OTE Design and Fabrication, 401 Wilmont St., Waukesha, was contacted by a man in July 2009 to restore his Corvair at a total cost of $18,790. The man gave Ljujic a $5,000 check and work was slated to begin immediately.

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Ljujic and the man exchanged phone calls and emails for months, the complaint states, and in February 2010, Ljujic said another $5,205 would be needed to complete the project, which the man sent him. Ljujic again asked him for more money several more times and by March 2010, the man spent $21,219 towards the completion of the project.

In May 2010, the man contacted Ljujic to ask him if the car would be completed for “driving season,” but the man was told Ljujic needed to complete other projects and his reputation was important, so he didn’t want to bring in subcontractors to complete the work, according to the complaint.

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In July, the complaint states, the man told Ljujic he wanted to settle financially so he could hire someone else to complete the project; however, shortly afterward Ljujic called the man back and told him he was filing for bankruptcy and didn’t have to pay the money back.

The man eventually got his vehicle in August, the complaint states, but the engine and other parts were returned in cardboard boxes.

When questioned by investigators, Ljujic told them he had only completed about $5,000 of work on the vehicle, the complaint states.

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