By Joe Bachman

A 21-year-old man faces charges of burglary and theft after police say he stole multiple items from three vehicles in the town of Grand Rapids.

Joseph Lang II, of Wisconsin Rapids, is charged with burglary and three counts of theft. At approximately 11:25 p.m. on Mar. 12, an officer was dispatched to the 2900 block of Geneva Ct. in Grand Rapids regarding reports of theft from vehicles.

An officer spoke to a witness who claimed to see Lang take items from her vehicle. Another witness and family member observed Lang attempt to break into a van at a neighbor’s house. This witness also reported missing items from his own vehicle.

According to reports, shortly after Lang was spotted he fled into the woods and the complainant got into his vehicle and searched for him, and eventually spotted the suspected car Lang was in. Once noticed, the vehicle sped away, but not before the complainant took down the license plate number, and then chased after the car on his own before calling police.

Among the missing items was a GPS unit, a gym bag with sports equipment and shoes, and a hat, later found in the woods. An officer spoke to the neighbor who was informed that her snowblower was on the side of the road, when she originally had it locked up in a shed. It is believed that Lang attempted to steal this snowblower.

Officers traced the license plate number to an address and spoke to a resident who stated that herself, her boyfriend, and her boyfriend’s friend, Joseph Lang, were all at a family member’s house for a visit. According to reports, she stated that around 9:00 p.m. Lang went for a walk and was gone for a long time. At approximately 11:00 p.m., Lang allegedly ran into the house and was sweaty and short of breath.

According to the boyfriend, Lang returned to the house stating that he had messed up, repeatedly. Lang then asked him for a ride, and allegedly was wearing a blue backpack full of various items. Lang allegedly admitted that he stole a snowblower and an ice auger.

If convicted, Lang faces up to 12 years and six months imprisonment and up to $25,000 in fines. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Mar 28.