Police: Grandson Steals Grandma's Jewelry for Heroin Habit

Caledonia police say a man played a trick on his grandmother to distract her so he could steal her jewelry to support his heroin habit.

Daniel Kasabian, 35, was charged Monday in Racine County Circuit Court with misdemeanor theft, repeater, and one felony count of burglary of a dwelling, repeater. If convicted, he faces up to 13 years, three months in jail and/or up to $35,000 in fines. Because he is considered a repeat offender, a judge has the discretion to tack more time onto any sentence they might hand down.

According to the criminal complaint, Caledonia police were called Sunday to a home in the 6700 block of Novak Road for a report of a theft. When officers arrived, the homeowner told them she believed her grandson - later identified as Kasabian - had been in her home to steal jewelry because he has a heroin addiction.

The woman said she was sitting in her living room watching TV when the doorbell rang. When she opened the door, she found a large piece of countertop on the porch so she moved it and went back to watching TV. The doorbell sounded again, the complaint reads, and when the woman opened the door the piece of countertop had been placed on the porch again.

Police say the woman told them she then noticed her basement door and her exterior door in the basement were slightly ajar. When she came back upstairs she noticed Kasabian coming out of her bedroom and believes he took some jewelry and some tools. 

The woman told officers that Kasabian was at her house Friday and she believes he took $300 cash from a dresser drawer in her bedroom, according to the complaint. 

A citizen called police when they spotted Kasabian driving a white pick up truck, going fast and driving over the curb at least twice. The driver followed the truck into the City of Racine, and when police pulled him over, they say he had a variety of tools in the back of the truck. 

As of Monday afternoon, Kasabian remained in the Racine County Jail on a $750 cash bond. His preliminary hearing is Aug. 22.