Hard News Story

As part of my Professional Communication coursework, I wrote this hard news story. This has not been published in any place other than this blog.

February 26, 2009

MILWAUKEE - A computer was reported stolen from a Southside Milwaukee home late Wednesday afternoon, according to Milwaukee County Police.

The MacBook belonged to Rebecca Miller*, the mother of the household. She last remembers seeing it around 7:00 am, when she says she coiled up the cord and left for work. Her son noticed it was gone at 3:30 pm when he returned home from school.

According to Miller, the computer was often left on the coffee table in the living room. Her daughter noticed the empty breadboard on which the laptop was kept at 1:00 pm. “I figured it was in my brother’s room,” she said. “It never occurred to me to wonder about it.”

Police suspect it was taken by someone who was familiar with the house. Officer Hart of the Milwaukee Police Department initially suggested one of Rebecca’s three children may have taken it and sold it. Miller and her husband strongly disagree.

“We all use the computer,” Miller explained Wednesday evening. “It wouldn’t make sense for them to sell it.”

Previous incidents and missing items lead police to believe it is a chain of thefts.

The family is limiting non-family members’ access to the home and plans to change the locks.

Miller has not yet decided whether informing their homeowner’s insurance carrier would be beneficial.


*Names have been changed