Pleasant Prairie smash-and-grab; suspects hit JCP jewelry department

PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. - Police are on the hunt for four burglars who pulled off a quick jewelry heist at a Pleasant Prairie JCPenney early Thursday, Feb. 29. 

A boarded-up door covered where glass had been shattered at the JCPenney on 77th Street. Police say the burglars burst in around 2:30 a.m. Thursday.

"They smashed in the front door, went right to the jewelry department and started trying to smash the cases," said Capt. Paul Marik of the Pleasant Prairie Police Department. 

Smash-and-grab at JCPenney in Pleasant Prairie

Marik said as one acted as the lookout, the three others shattered glass cases with sledgehammers. 

"What they did get was lower-level stuff, they didn’t really get a lot," Marik said. 

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Police say what the burglars left behind is actually more interesting than what they took. 

Smash-and-grab at JCPenney in Pleasant Prairie

"On one of the cases, we do have one of the suspect's blood DNA evidence – and then he left us a couple of droplets on the floor," Marik said. "Being overzealous or just trying to work quick, you know one of those guys ended up cutting themselves, which means you were there."

Capt. Paul Marik

Capt. Marik blames outsiders for recent crime in the area – and issues another warning to those on the run. 

"For these guys, I’d say just come and turn yourselves in. It’s just going to be a matter of time," Marik said.

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Pleasant Prairie police investigate smash-and-grab at JCPenney

Police say they are looking for four masked individuals who got away in a white vehicle. If you have information that could help Pleasant Prairie police, you are urged to call them.