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Suspect Caught in Huge Vodka and Cigarette Heist

A man in Wisconsin was accused of stealing many bottles of vodka, over 100 packs of cigarettes, cash, and other items from a liquor store at the beginning of August, and he is facing charges for the allegations.

Just before 5:00 am on July 26, Geneva Liquors in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, reportedly had someone break into the establishment.

The store was reportedly missing many bottles of Grey Goose vodka, nearly 140 packs of cigarettes, wine, over two dozen phone charging cables, $380, and a canned energy drink from their inventory.

When the suspect allegedly illegally entered the liquor store, their security alarm system sent a notification to the local police department to let them know of a possible intruder.

Officers dispatched and arrived at the establishment, and when they came into contact with the suspect he was identified as 35-year-old Derek D. Schroeder from Elkhorn, which is approximately 10-miles away from the Lake Geneva store.

When the authorities collected and reviewed the surveillance video from the liquor store they reported that it depicted a man they believed to be Schroeder, and he was allegedly seen crawling through a vent to gain entry to the inside of the establishment. The suspect then allegedly gathered the merchandise and cash.

Schroeder is facing charges that were filed by the D.A. on August 4, comprised of one count of felony retail theft, and one misdemeanor count of burglary of a building.

His preliminary hearing is currently expected to take place six-days after the district attorney’s initial filing.

If he is convicted as charged, Schroeder, who was reported as having a prior criminal history, could spend over a decade in jail.

If you or someone you love is suspected of a theft offense, contact Orange County criminal defense lawyer Staycie R. Sena at (949) 477-8088 for a consultation now.

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