Gun stolen from unlocked vehicle

MANAWA - Manawa police are reminding residents to lock their vehicles and remove valuables after several vehicles were entered on Factory Street and a gun was stolen from an unlocked car.

According to the Manawa Police Department, vehicles were gone through during the night of March 29 into March 30. The vehicle entries appear to have been concentrated along much of Factory Street.

“Basically, from the south side all the way to the north side of that street, they just went up one side and down the other, it appears,” said Police Chief Jason Severson.

Severson said police are aware of one vehicle that was entered but nothing was taken. Police also received two formal reports of vehicles being entered at a single residence. In one of those vehicles, a firearm was taken.

Severson has served in several Wisconsin departments including Fremont, Clintonville, Kaukauna and Fox Crossing. He said that while vehicle entries are common in larger areas, Manawa has largely avoided such activity in recent years.

Most offenders look for easy targets such as unlocked vehicles with visible valuables, he said. He suggested that residents should leave a light on outside for security purposes and lock their house and vehicles “because most of the time, if you have nothing in sight and the car is locked, they just move on to another target.”

The investigation into the vehicle entries and stolen gun remained active as of late last week. Anyone whose vehicle was targeted or who has information can contact Manawa Police by phone at 920-596-3390 or by email at police@manawawi.gov.