Crime & Safety
Man Caught Stealing Scrap Metal From a Dumpster
West Allis man was caught rooting around in a Dumpster when a Falls police officer drove by.
A 48-year-old West Allis man is facing charges after he was allegedly caught taking scrap metal from a Menomonee Falls Dumpster.
Brian S. Hofstetter was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Thursday with one count of theft. If convicted, he faces up to nine months in prison and $10,000 in fines.
According to the criminal complaint:
Find out what's happening in Menomonee Fallsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
At 2:46 a.m. June 16, a Menomonee Falls police officer was on patrol near Carmen Avenue and Williams Place when he heard pipes banging together, then saw Hofstetter standing inside a Dumpster owned by a private business. Hofstetter told the officer he was collecting scrap metal to make some extra money.
His van was parked nearby with more metal inside, which Hofstetter said mostly came from a friend who got the items from an unknown place in Milwaukee.
Find out what's happening in Menomonee Fallsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
He will make his initial appearance in court Sept. 17.