Crime & Safety
Man Stole Car after Finding Misplaced Keys In Hotel Lobby, Police Say
A 19-year-old Milwaukee man has been charged after police say is he stole a car after the owner misplaced the keys in a hotel lobby.
A 19-year-old Milwaukee man is accused of stealing a car after the owner misplaced the keys in a hotel lobby.
Andre Bendel was charged Saturday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court with one count of operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent. If convicted, he could face up to six years imprisonment, $10,000 in fines, or both.
According to the criminal complaint:
On May 17 an Oak Creek police officer was on patrol when he saw a man pacing frantically in the parking lot of the Days Inns Hotel, 1201 W. College Ave. The man told the officer he had rented a car after arriving at Mitchell International Airport, bought a hotel room, parking the car in the parking lot.
He told police he woke up around 2:30 a.m. to noisy neighbors, and went to the lobby to ask for a different room when he realized he didn’t have the car keys. He went out to the lot to see if he dropped the keys and noticed the car was gone.
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During questioning, Bendel told police he was at the Days Inn and saw a set of keys near a computer in the lobby. He grabbed the keys, held them for about an hour before he went to the parking lot and hit the unlock button on the keyless entry and saw the headlights turn on. He then drove the car to pick up his friends.
Bendel’s initial court appearance is set for July 12.
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