An Eau Claire man has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in at least five daytime residential burglaries.
Police arrested Richard C. Lehst, 24, who is expected to make his initial court appearance July 25.
“He’s been linked to five different burglaries so far,” Eau Claire Police Lt. Gerald Staniszewski said Monday, “but we think he may have been involved in more, maybe as many as five more.”
A resident last week noticed a suspicious male walking around a neighbor’s house in the 100 block of Maple Street and called police. An officer arrived as Lehst was driving away. A laptop computer taken from the residence was inside Lehst’s vehicle, Staniszewski said.
After interviewing Lehst, police linked him to additional burglaries since October, he said.
Lehst is suspected of taking ATM and credit cards as well as laptops. Officers tracked down a video of Lehst apparently using a stolen ATM card at a gas station in May.
“This case was solved due to an alert neighbor and the quick response of our patrol officer on the scene,” Staniszewski said.
— Leader Telegram of Eau Claire
