Crime & Safety
Complaint: Man Performs Community Service, then Breaks into Business
Teen, who needs to pay for his public defender, tries to steal metal from his prior employers, according to criminal complaint.
An 18-year-old Waukesha man is facing charges after he and a 15-year-old friend broke into a recycling plant trailer after a day of performing community service, according to a criminal complaint.
Jake Nathan Salas was charged in on Friday with one count burglary of a locked enclosed cargo portion of a trailer, one count of criminal damage to property and one count of bail jumping. If convicted, he could face up to 14 years in prison and $45,000 in fines.
According to the criminal complaint:
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Salas and his accomplice broke into a construction trailer Thursday evening at Green Waukesha, 1005 Perkins Ave., while they were coming home from a day of community service at the Salvation Army.
Surveillance videos showed the two break open a window on a construction trailer at the plant and then flee after alarms went off. They were later found at Salas’ home where he and the other teen admitted to the crime, saying Salas worked at the plant last year and knew they kept valuable materials in the area and he needed to steal scrap metal to help pay for his public defender.
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Salas said they were unable to find any lead, so they smashed the trailer window without intending to break in.
Salas is being held in county jail on $1,000 bond.
