Seven people worked together in heroin-related burglaries, thefts

By TED SULLIVAN

Friday, Jan. 30, 2009

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Krystal Thalacker

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Samantha Hunt

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Garrett Thalacker

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Joshua Jackson

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Zachary Cunningham

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Andrew Russell

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Nicole Titus

MILTON — Seven people arrested in the Milton burglary and theft cases conspired to commit the crimes to support their heroin or marijuana habits, officials said.

"They were all friends, and most of them lived together," Rock County Sheriff's Capt. Todd Christiansen said. "They were all in it together. They were using the items they had stolen to purchase drugs."

The Milton area has had a rash of burglaries and thefts from unlocked vehicles in the last two months. Investigators have connected the crimes to heroin use.

"Heroin seems to be making a comeback," Christiansen said. "It's affordable. People are buying it."

Investigators believe the group pawned, sold or traded the stolen items for drugs, he said.

"I don't know what made them do it, if it was because they needed their next hit or what," Christiansen said.

Sheriff's officials and Milton police on Jan. 19 searched a home at 9215 N. Newville Road in Fulton Township and found items stolen in recent burglaries and thefts, he said.

A stolen firearm, cameras, GPS navigation devices and compact discs were found, Christiansen said.

Heroin, marijuana and drug paraphernalia also were recovered, he said.

Detectives were able to link the found property to six burglary or theft cases, Christiansen said.

The following people were arrested:

-- Krystal H. Thalacker, 21, of 9215 N. Newville Road, Edgerton, on a charge of party to theft.

-- Samantha J. Hunt, 21, of 403 Pease St., Janesville, on a charge of party to theft.

-- Garrett E. Thalacker, 19, of 9215 N. Newville Road, Edgerton, on charges of party to burglary and party to theft.

-- Joshua C. Jackson, 21, of 187 Romar Drive, Milton, on charges of party to burglary and party to theft.

-- Zachary W. Cunningham, 21, of 9215 N. Newville Road, Edgerton, on a charge of theft of a firearm.

-- Andrew C. Russell, 28, of 9215 N. Newville Road, Edgerton, on charges of possession of heroin, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

-- Nicole M. Titus, 24, of 9215 N. Newville Road, Edgerton, on charges of possession of heroin, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.