Two Home Burglars/Car Thieves Captured After Short Manhunt in City Of Fond du Lac

A pair of home burglars and car thieves in Menasha were caught in Fond du Lac last night, but not before creating havoc in the city for about 45 minutes.

Just before 9 PM Tuesday, November 29, 2022, the Menasha Police Department took a call of a home in the 400 block of Lake Road being burglarized and a White Land Rover being stolen from the property.

At 9:35 the stolen vehicle was spotted southbound on 41 and a Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department officer initiated a traffic stop, but the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed.

The Winnebago Sheriff’s Department chose not to chase the vehicle, but they notified Fond du Lac County that it was coming their way.

Shortly after 10, a City of Fond du Lac Police Officer watching for the vehicle spotted it southbound on 41 at Johnson Road and attempted to stop it.

The vehicle started to elude and the officer gave chase.

The stolen Land Rover exited Military Road and headed south into the City of Fond du Lac.

The vehicle struck another vehicle at the intersection of Military and Western and became disabled.

The two occupants got out and started running.

Officers from the City of Fond du Lac Police Department, Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol swarmed the area, utilizing a drone and at least one police dog to search the area.

A short time later, one of the suspects was apprehended in the area of Morris and Brush Streets.

The second person was caught near the intersection of Oak Street and Western Ave.

Both suspects had spent some time in the frigid waters of the Fond du Lac River so an ambulance was called to check them out for any health concerns. One of the suspects was transported to the hospital for his exposure to the cold water.

The driver, a 19-year-old Eau Claire man, was arrested by the City of Fond du Lac Police Department and is being held at the Fond du Lac County Jail on charges of operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent, eluding an officer, resisting an officer and a Wisconsin Department of Corrections probation hold.

The passenger, a 25-year-old Neenah man, was arrested by the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office and is being held at the Fond du Lac County Jail on charges of resisting an officer, possession of a schedule 2 narcotic, possession of an illegally obtained prescription and a Wisconsin Department of Corrections probation hold.

The initial motor vehicle theft and other crimes are under active investigation by the City of Menasha Police Department.

No further details or information are being released at this time.