Waukesha Man Charged With Burglary After Father Recognizes Picture on TV Report

When the father of a 32-year-old Waukesha man saw his son's picture on surveillance footage in a theft case being aired on Fox 6, he knew what he needed to do.

The father contacted authorities in August to tell them it was his son, Christopher D. Newman, who was their suspect in the break-in at a New Berlin gas station to steal cigarettes and lottery tickets, according to a criminal complaint.

Newman, 32, was charged in last week with one count of burglary and one count of criminal damage to property. If convicted, he faces up to 13 years in prison and $35,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

On July 18, Newman broke into Jim’s Mobil, 12401 W. Cleveland Ave., New Berlin, by smashing out a front door and stole 63 packs of Newport 100 cigarettes and 130 scratch-off lottery tickets. The total amount of items stolen were valued at $650 and damage to the business was estimated at $570.

Four days after the burglary police were notified that some of the stolen lottery tickets were cashed at a West Allis gas station, with surveillance videos from both businesses showing it was the same person who cashed the tickets that broke into the other gas station.

In August, Newman’s father contacted police to tell them it was his son who broke into the gas station after seeing a picture of the suspect during a Fox 6 news segment.

Newman is being held in Waukesha County Jail on $2,499 cash bond.