MONROE — A teen suspect charged with 70 counts related to multiple burglaries in the region may soon have his day in court.

Zachary Michael Steele is accused in the string of burglaries from throughout the region last year, and while he may have accomplices, he is so far the only one charged in the brazen crimes. An assault rifle was among the items taken — and recovered — as part of the investigation. Some of the items were valued at more than $2,500, according to court records.

Steele, 18, is scheduled for his next hearing at 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 23 in Green County Circuit Court. In a hearing on Jan. 18, he stood mute before the judge and a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf.

Calling them “crimes of opportunity” the suspect or suspects would take just about anything, Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley has said, including chain saws and power tools — anything with resale value. Police surmise the combined property is worth many thousands, although no official totals are available. 

Steele has been charged with numerous felonies, many counts of residential burglary, possession of burglary tools, theft, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

The suspects were caught on video in at least one location, Kelley said. He wore a mask, a pair of gloves; and was careful to hit mostly rural businesses with few people around to see them, they said. But that didn’t stop people from seeing reports of the crimes and identifying the suspects.

 “The old adage that three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead,” applies to the crimes, Kelley said, adding that someone also identified the main suspect despite attempts to be sneaky. “Someone recognized the mask.”

Each burglary charge is a class H felony in Wisconsin, punishable by up to 12 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Steele has been free on $2,500 bond.

Kelley initially said detectives suspected that Steele may have been involved in burglaries south of Illinois border and in other Wisconsin counties but so far, no charges have been brought by any other jurisdictions, he said Monday. Still, it’s a possibility given the sheer number of crimes reportedly attributed to the defendant,

You never know,” the chief said.” I think there may have been two or three suspects.”