MONROE — Detectives used smears of blood left on a safe to identify the suspect in the June burglary of a rural Monroe business, according to a criminal complaint filed Nov. 2 in Green County Circuit Court.
Cody Alan Young, 28, Argyle, faces felony charges of burglary and theft and two misdemeanor counts of criminal damage to property, all as a repeat offender.
His signature bond was set at $20,000 at his initial appearance Nov. 10. He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing Dec. 11.
The burglary happened late June 29 at Davis Welding & Machine, N1953 Jeffery Rd. It was reported to the Green County Sheriff’s Office the next morning. Detectives responded to collect evidence, including blood left on a safe when the burglar attempted to steal it.
A sample of the blood was sent to the state crime lab to see if the DNA matched anyone on file. The state collects a DNA sample from anyone convicted of a felony and in many cases even a misdemeanor.
Detectives also viewed video surveillance from the business, but the burglar was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, a beanie-style hat and a mask that disguised his face.
A June 30 post to Davis Welding’s Facebook page described the burglar breaking in a rear window and spending over two hours “helping himself” to tools inside the machine shop.
Drills as well as multiple whole sets of wrenches and ratchets were taken, “all nicer, newer stuff that he knew he could sell real easily,” Davis Welding owner Jerry Von Kaenel told the Times.
The total value of items reported stolen during the burglary is $2909.79, plus the cost of repairing damage to the window, according to the criminal complaint.
Young has a conviction history of burglaries in the area dating back to 2012. Wisconsin Department of Corrections records show he has spent most of his adult life in prison or on parole.
Court records show the burglaries included break-ins at the Klondike Cheese Factory and the Argyle Rod and Gun Club, as well as thefts of cash and prescription pills out of a truck and a home in 2012.
In the summer of 2015, Young and an accomplice hit seven businesses in a two-week period: Husie’s Bar and Grill in Blanchardville, the Four Seasons Resort in Argyle, Lelle’s Bar in Woodford, Ruf’s Farm Service and Brunkow Cheese, both near Darlington, and the Yellowstone Dairy Bar and neighboring Yellowstone Bait and Tackle in Blanchardville.