Check thief sentenced to 10 years’ probation

Published 11:23 am Friday, December 28, 2012

A 19-year-old charged with breaking into a Racine home and stealing checks in late July and early August was convicted of one felony Thursday in Mower County Court.

Bradley Allen Lound, of Racine, was sentenced to 10 years’ supervised probation and 40 hours of community service on one count of second-degree burglary. A second charge of second-degree burglary was dropped.

According to the Mower County Court complaint, the homeowner noticed a metal striker plate from his door lying on the floor on two separate occasions — July 23 and Aug. 13 — when he returned home. However, both times the homeowner didn’t find any missing items. The victim later looked at his bank statement and discovered three checks were forged in the amounts of $147, $65 and $135, according to the complaint.

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An officer obtained video surveillance of the suspect at a Stewartville bank, which shows Lound cashing a fourth check worth $142. The officer went to the defendant’s home and arrested him. According to the complaint, Lound admitted to entering the home, taking the checks and writing them to himself. Lound also consented to a search of his room, and the officer found four more checks belonging to the victim, the complaint adds.