A man wanted for three burglary incidents on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus last spring admitted to the crimes Friday and is awaiting sentencing in Dane County Jail.
University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department Sgt. Aaron Chapin said in a police report William Lynch confessed he was involved in three burglary crimes occurring during March and April 2012 on UW-Madison’s campus.
“They were all burglaries where Mr. Lynch ended up going into people’s offices and stealing purses and wallets that were unattended,” Chapin said.
Lynch is not a student nor is he affiliated with UW-Madison, although he has been in trouble with the law in the past, according to Chapin.
“He does have a criminal history and has been involved in these types of nefarious behavior,” Chapin said.
During the UWPD’s investigation, detectives determined Lynch could be involved in another burglary incident on the UW-Eau Claire campus and in the City of Brookfield, according to the statement.
UWPD worked with UW-Eau Claire Police Department detectives to obtain video of an individual using a credit card stolen in the the UW-Eau Claire incident.
Although Lynch confessed to detectives he did steal the credit card, he said he did not remember using it, according to a complaint filed in Eau Claire County Circuit Court.
Dane County has not charged Lynch in the burglary cases at UW-Madison, although he currently faces charges of identity theft and fraudulent credit card use in Eau Claire County, according to Chapin.
The City of Brookfield Police Department, located in Waukesha County, has also charged Lynch with two counts of identify theft, according to the UWPD.
Lynch is currently incarcerated in the Dane County Jail where he awaits sentencing.
Chapin also said the collaboration between UWPD and UW-Eau Claire Police Department was essential in tying Lynch to the cases in Eau Claire and Brookfield.
