After moving to Wadena July 1 and taking a long Fourth of July weekend vacation, a couple returned to town to find their apartment burglarized and privacy invaded.
After a suspect tore a window screen, entered through a window and damaged the air conditioner, the individual allegedly stole a laptop computer and digital camera. Also missing were items of clothing and a half bottle of lotion, according to the couple. The woman discovered a pair of black jeans that had what she believed was semen on them. Other clothes were found in a hamper.
The burglary happened at an apartment located on the 1700 block of Second Street Southwest.
A Wadena police officer went to the apartment and collected a screwdriver possibly used to break into the apartment and the half-empty bottle of lotion to dust for fingerprints. Later, an officer returned to take the black jeans into evidence.
The case remains under investigation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Officer Naomi Kimber said the department has suspects and continues to investigate. The burglary appeared to be random as far as the couple wasn't specifically targeted, she said.
However, there had been an incident at that specific apartment before the couple moved in July 1, Kimber said.
Penny, a sister to one of the victims who lives out of town, said she wants to make sure people are aware of this incident and would like the suspect to be caught.
She does not want to have her last name printed because she is afraid of whoever burglarized her sister and brother-and-law's apartment.
"My sister called me and I came to the apartment right away to look around," Penny said. "I was pretty scared and [my sister] was frightened."
The couple was frightened so much that they decided not to stay in Wadena, she said.
Most importantly, Penny would like the suspect to be caught and for people to be aware.
"Maybe people don't think things like that happen in Wadena," she said.
ADVERTISEMENT
