Computer equipment stolen from two cars at restaurant

Thieves who broke into two locked vehicles at an Oak Creek restaurant got away with almost $15,000 worth of high-end electrical equipment and accessories Oct. 11.

According to the Oak Creek police log:

An employee at Branded Steer Restaurant, 1299 W. College Ave., called police after a customer reported his locked truck had been broken into about 8:15 p.m. Oct. 11. The rear passenger-side window was smashed to gain access to the personal property inside.

Items stolen from the vehicle were two HP laptop computers, a value of $2,400; two iPads, a value of $1,700; a Mac computer and a MacBook, a value of $4,000; a $250 Garmin GPS unit; a $1,000 fountain pen; a $200 Nissan remote key; a $100 backpack; a $400 computer bag and $200 worth of miscellaneous chargers. Damage to the truck is estimated at $250.

While investigating, an officer found another vehicle in the parking lot with a smashed driver-side window. The owner of the car was soon found and he confirmed that a $200 briefcase, a $3,000 Dell laptop computer and a $1,500 Panasonic projector had been stolen during the break-in. Damage to the car window was estimated at $250.

Both crimes occurred in the restaurant parking lot between 7:30 and 8:10 p.m.