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A 17 year-old boy from Milwaukee is facing 17 felony counts, after prosecutors say he confessed to taking part in four auto dealership burglaries in Racine County.
Jabon V’Dillie is also suspected in taking part in a dealership burglary in Ozaukee County. Prosecutors say several others were also involved in the crimes and, while V’Dillie admits he knows the other suspects, he has only identified them by first names or nicknames.
The thefts occurred earlier this summer at several dealerships in Mount Pleasant. One incident resulted in police chasing three stolen vehicles leaving a dealership, during which a 13-year-old was arrested after crashing one of the cars. Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy Tricia Hanson says the thefts took place as “smash and grab” burglaries, where the suspects would smash windows at the dealerships and grab keys from inside the building.
Prosecutors says V’Dillie will be tried as an adult in the case, because they want to send a message that this type of crime is not tolerated in Racine County.