Woman Takes Mom's SUV, Then Gives it to a Friend

A 20-year-old Muskego woman is facing charges after she allegedly stole her mom’s SUV, then gave it to a friend.

Stephanie A. Grunert was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Monday with one count of operating a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent. If convicted, she faces up to six years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

In March, Grunert was dropped off at her parent’s home in the W20000 block of Ridge Road and her mom went upstairs to make a phone call. When she came back down, her daughter was gone along with her SUV.

A few days later, Grunert called her dad and asked for a ride back to their house from her grandparents. When he asked where the SUV was, she said she didn’t know and she had given it to a friend.

Police contacted the friend who said he also didn’t know where the SUV was, saying Grunert called him the day of the theft and asked to go to a party on the east side of Milwaukee.

However, several days later, the man was found driving the SUV in Milwaukee.

Grunert will make her initial appearance in court Sept. 17.