Milwaukee police car theft data shows 94% of cases unsolved

MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee Police Department data show 94% of the city's car thefts this year remain unsolved.

So far in 2023, MPD reports 4,127 stolen – a total that is down 31% compared to the same time last year.

One of the recent victims is Mike Johnson of Milwaukee.

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

"It’s heartbreaking. I worked hard to save up and treat myself to something new just to see it beat up, literally dismantled in front of my eyes," he said.

Johnson said thieves in July stole his car, which was parked on his street in Milwaukee.

Mike Johnson recovers his stolen Kia SUV

"It’s hard to watch. I can get over my stuff, but it’s my kids stuff that…it almost brought me to tears, Johnson said. "All their favorite stuff that they keep in the car, just dumb toys and stuff like that, stuff that make them happy, just to see that get taken away."

Johnson's stolen Kia SUV had a LoJack GPS system, so he tracked the car and eventually found it inside an open garage.

"I did exactly what they did to me. They took it without asking," he said. 

But, the car he bought about two weeks before the theft looked a lot different. He reported extensive damage.

"They just treated it like a war zone."

As Johnson waits for a body shop to repair what thieves did, he'll have to return his insurance-provided rental on Saturday.

Mike Johnson tracked his stolen Kia SUV using GPS

"It’s more inconvenient than anything," he said.

MPD has set up a special task force with staff dedicated to this crime, including focusing on repeat offenders.

"Some of these individuals, we’re seeing their fingerprints on dozens of recovered stolen cars," said MPD Assistant Chief Paul Formolo. "Therefore, obviously, those are the individuals we have to put resources and focus on, and that’s what we did."

MPD reported it has cleared 6% of this year's car theft cases, the same clearance rate as last year. It considers a case cleared when it makes an arrest.

In 2021, the clearance rate was 3%

In 2020, it was 2%

MPD said the national average in 2019 was 12%, while Chicago this year has arrested someone in 4% of cases.

In total so far this year, the department reported arresting 612 people accused of car thefts.