Racine ​Burglar's 'Friend' Caught Red-Handed With Stolen Gun

RACINE — The apparent friend of a home burglar was caught red-handed by police, with a stolen gun and a second one he was not allowed to have.

Brian Zimmerman, 27, Racine, faces charges of receiving stolen property and possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted, Zimmerman faces up to five years behind bars on the felony charge.

According to his complaint, Racine police responded to a burglary call on the 2600 block of N. Wisconsin Ave. on Dec. 9. Police found a gun safe with pry marks and heavy damage near the door and locking mechanism.

Residents told police that the culprit was likely a known suspect who had knowledge of guns in their basement.

Police investigated the crime, which led them to Zimmerman's apartment. Police executed a search warrant on his apartment on the 600 block of 17th st., where they found one of the stolen guns from the burglary sitting in plain view, the complaint said.

Zimmerman explained to police that his neighbor and known suspect in the burglary, asked him to store some of the stolen items from N. Wisconsin at his apartment. He was also asked by the suspect to help sell some of the stolen items, but the only stolen item he had was the rifle police saw in the apartment - a .308 Mohawk 600, according to the complaint.

During the search, police also learned Zimmerman had a Rossi Brand .38 revolverin his possession. Zimmerman acknowledged having a criminal record that included felony charges, the complaint stated. Those charges included Felony theft, and resisting an officer in a 2014 case, possession of drug paraphernalia in a 2012 case , possession of THC second offense in 2011 and battery in 2006.

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