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Unlocked Gym Lockers Lead To Thefts From Vehicles

Unlocked Gym Lockers Lead To Thefts From Vehicles

Madison Police responded to similar crime sprees earlier this month, all involving women who had car keys stolen from unlocked lockers while they were working out.

On Feb. 2, three were victimized at the Princeton Club on Madisons' far west side, police said. The next day, three more women reported someone got into their parked vehicles at the YMCA on Cottage Grove Road, police said.

In all cases, keys were taken from locker rooms and then money was stolen from purses that had left inside locked vehicles, police said. In a couple of cases, nothing appeared to be missing, police said. They said some stolen keys were recovered, but not all of them.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014.

Man Accused Of Ramming SUV Into Ex-Girlfriend's Car In Custody

Man Accused Of Ramming SUV Into Ex-Girlfriend's Car In Custody

A 27-year-old man accused of ramming his SUV into the car of an ex-girlfriend as she was driving on Atticus Way in the early morning hours of Feb. 3 faces multiple criminal charges, according to police.

Police said they found Jose Antonio Medina Mendoza at about 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, hiding in a closet of a home on Catalpa Way in the Allied Drive neighborhood.

The victim said after the collision that Mendoza stayed in his SUV and followed her to her residence. He then got out of the SUV and threatened to kill her, and kicked and threw rocks at the windows as she remained inside her car, police said.

Mendoza drove away a short time later, police said. They said the woman was not injured.

Madison Woman Faces Felony Drunken Driving Charge

Madison Woman Faces Felony Drunken Driving Charge

A 50-year-old Madison woman faces a fourth offense drunken driving charge after knocking down a traffic light near the intersection of Maple Grove Road and McKee Road on Tuesday night, according to the Madison Police Department.

The crash occurred just before 9 p.m., police said.

A witness told police that Lori Bierman was driving east on McKee Road and tried to turn south on Maple Grove Drive when her car left the roadway and struck the traffic light.

Couple Says Man With Gun Approaches Car In Fast-Food Drive-Thru

Couple Says Man With Gun Approaches Car In Fast-Food Drive-Thru

A frightened Madison couple drove away from a drive-thru, without picking up food Wednesday night, after a stranger pointed what they believed to be a handgun at their vehicle, according to the Madison Police Department.

Police said the couple had ordered food at the Wendy's on South Gammon Road at about 11 p.m. Wednesday. They told police that the passenger from the car behind them got out of the car and started to approach their vehicle.

The couple told police that the man extended his arm and it looked like he was holding something metallic that could have been a weapon.

The woman told her husband to drive away, and they drove to the West District station and called 911 to report the incident.

The husband told officers that he believed that he would have been robbed if they didn't drive away. 

Sears Employee Punched In Face By Shoplifter

Sears Employee Punched In Face By Shoplifter

A Sears loss prevention officer was punched in the face as she tried to stop two shoplifters Monday afternoon, according to the Madison Police Department.

Police said the incident occurred at about 1:30 p.m. at West Towne Mall. They said the two teenagers had fled the store with stolen clothing when the victim and a colleague confronted them.

Following the blow to the head, the two teenagers took off across the West Towne Mall parking lot with security still in pursuit.

Police said Deshana S. Graham-Golden, 17, of Madison, faces battery and retail theft charges. A 15-year-old boy was cited for retail theft, police said.

Man Makes Sexual Advances, Threat To Female Shopper

Man Makes Sexual Advances, Threat To Female Shopper

A frightened woman contacted Madison Police Monday evening after an encounter with a stranger inside Metcalfe's Market on Mineral Point Road, according to the Madison Police Department.

Police said a 38-year-old woman was shopping at about 6:15 p.m. on Monday when a man approached and tried to engage her in sexually suggestive conversation.

Police said the conversation ended when the man grabbed her coat and said, "You're coming with me."

At that moment, a private security guard came into the area and the man walked away, police said. The woman was understandably very shaken by the incident, police said.

The man is described as black, in his late 20s to early 30s, about 6 feet 2 inches tall with a large build, police said. They said he had 2-inch tall afro-style haircut and a beard.

Madison Police Break Up Fight In New Town Pub Parking Lot

Madison Police Break Up Fight In New Town Pub Parking Lot

A Madison Police officer broke up a disturbance that appeared to be drug related early Friday morning at the New Town Pub on South Gammon Road.

Two men were in a heated exchange in the parking lot outside of the bar at about 2 a.m., police said. They said at the same time, a woman grabbed a baseball bat from a car and was heading toward the men.

The officer was in the area, and believed a fight or battery was about to take place, police said. They said he intervened with the help of a private security guard while calling for backup.

Both men, Carlos Carter, 22, of Madison, and Sadarius Goodall, 31, of Deerfield, each face charges of resisting arrest, police said. Carter also faces charges of disorderly conduct, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, police said.