Sturtevant Couple Accused of Stealing from Family for Drugs

After changing their story several times, a Sturtevant couple finally came clean to police about their role last January in an alleged burglary of a Union Grove home, charge allege.

According to the criminal complaint, Lisa and Timothy Peterson used a key to get into a family member's home in order to make off with several expensive electronics and video games. When the victims reported the crime to police, they told officers they suspected Lisa Peterson because she had access to the house.

Among the missing items was an iPad, a net book computer, an XBox system and several games for the XBox. All told, the estimated worth of the stolen items is almost $5,000.

Investigators confirmed the residence lacked evidence of a break-in and that even though Lisa Peterson was seen in the home on several occassions around the time of the alleged crime, witnesses could not confirm whether or not she carried anything with her when she left. Still, they questioned her about the items missing from the victims' house. At first, she denied knowing anything.

Then, two weeks later, Lisa Peterson reportedly admitted she had a drug problem and "wanted to make things right." Deputies with the Racine County Sheriff's Office state in the criminal complaint that the suspect said she took the iPad and passed it to her husband who then pawned it at a shop on 16th street in the City of Racine. She also copped to taking the net book computer, gaming system and games, and a few hundred dollars in change on at least two occasions when no one was home.

Timothy Peterson also denied knowing anything about stolen property or his wife's drug problem, but then he, too, changed his story. During an interview with him at his home, he reportedly told deputies he knew Lisa Peterson stole the iPad. The reason he pawned it, he said, was to avoid having his wife's name on a receipt that could be traced back to her.

Timothy Peterson also admitted to knowing about the other stolen items and allegedly retrieved the net book from the back of a television set. He said he believed Lisa Peterson took the change she stole to turn it into cash at Walmart. Investigators were able to determine the games Lisa Peterson reportedly stole were sold at the gaming store at Highway 31 and 21st Street for $1,200.

Lisa Peterson is charged with three felony counts, one of theft of moveable property and two for burglary of a dwelling. If convicted of all three counts, she faces fines of up to $60,000 and/or up to 28-1/2 years in prison.

Timothy Peterson is charged with one misdemeanor count of receiving stolen goods and one felony count of harboring or aiding a felon. If convicted, he could face up to $20,000 in fines and/or up to four years, three months in prison.