Best Buy Burglars Stole $19K In Goods, Led Police On Chase: Cops

GREENFIELD, WI — Authorities in Greenfield say three Illinois men and a person from Indiana have all been arrested after stealing more than $19,000 in electronics from Best Buy prior to being caught in a wild police chase that led onto the expressway.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Milwaukee County, three Illinois men and an man from Indiana have all been charged with felony burglary, an the getaway driver has been charged with fleeing an officer.

Court records show that Michael Durkins, 18, and Jason Harris, 19, both of Country Club Hills, Illinois, Richard Listenbee, 43, of Kokomo, Indiana and Kentrell Steppes, 42, of Dixmoor, Illinois, were all arrested in the caper.

Authorities in Greenfield say officers responded to the 76th Street Best Buy store at about 4 a.m. on Sept. 8 on a report of an automatic burglar alarm. As officers approached the Best Buy, they saw a white van pulling out from the store's parking lot in the back of the building.

According to the criminal complaint, as the getaway van, driven by Steppes, pulled away, officers gave chase.

Officers say Steppes accelerated, and attempted to drive away from Greenfield police squads. Police say they chased the getaway van north on S. 76th Street, flipped a u-turn, and then sped back south on S. 76th Street. The van then attempted to enter the express way ramp on to I-894, and struck a traffic sign, causing it to break, officers said.

Police say they attempted to disable the van, but their first try was unsuccessful. Once on the expressway, officers tried again, and managed to disable the vehicle, according to reports.

Once the van was stopped, officers arrested the four men, and found two City of Milwaukee Garbage Bins, tools, clothing, and a large amount of electronic equipment in wrapped packaging inside. Officers also learned that the getaway van was reported as stolen.

Officers then followed up with Best Buy and learned that the business was broken into through a back door. Video surveillance shows three people, matching the clothing worn by Durkins, Harris, and Listenbee, running around the closed store, grabbing electronic items and placing them into a garbage bin.

Police say the value of the merchandise taken was about $19,000.