Police: After Grandma, Man Steals from Mom for Heroin Habit

Caledonia police say a man who was arrested just a few weeks ago for stealing from his grandmother to support his heroin habit has not taken some of his mother's jewelry for the same reason.

Daniel Kasabian, 35, was charged Tuesday in Racine County Circuit Court with one count of felony theft for an amount over $10,000. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison and/or up to $25,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint, Caledonia police were called to a residence Aug. 4 in the 12000 block of Highway V for a theft. When officers arrived, a woman told them her safe had been broken into and her wedding rings were gone.

She told police the key was taped to the bottom of a candle, and when she opened the safe, she noticed the rings were gone. Officers say there were pry marks and scrapes around the locking mechanism of the safe. Also missing was a diamond pendant from the jewelry box on the woman's dresser.

Appraisal reports provided to police indicate the total loss of the pieces is valued at $12,270, the complaint reads.

The woman told police she suspected Kasabian of stealing the jewelry because he has a heroin addiction and a criminal record. Police say other items went missing last fall before Kasabian went into rehab, the woman added, but she did not report those incidents to police.

Kasabian gained entrance to the home while the woman and her boyfriend were not present, but two younger children let him in because he said he was looking for his old golf shoes, the complaint reads.

Investigators say they discovered sales records from Oak Creek Currency from when Kasabian sold jewelry on Aug. 5, the day after the woman noticed her missing pieces. The owner did not photograph the pieces he bought, but he did tell police that he purchased two rings from Kasabian to be melted for scrap gold.

Kasabian remains in the Racine County Jail on a $500 cash bond. If he is released, he is ordered to not have any contact with the woman or anyone who lives at her residence. He will next be in court on Sept. 5 for his preliminary hearing on both cases.