Rummage Sale Leads to Bust of Port Burglar

An alleged Port Washington burglar is facing charges after he got caught selling items he stole from homes in Belgium at a rummage sale.

Michael D. Moulster, 37, was charged in Ozaukee County Circuit Court on Wednesday with three counts of burglary and one count of burglary while armed with a dangerous weapon. If convicted, he faces up to 52-½ years in prison and $125,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

On Aug. 8, 2011, a man showed up to work at a residence/business in the 900 block of Silver Beach Road and found someone had broken into the facility. Numerous items were taken, including a bow and arrow set.

Another burglary was reported Nov. 20, 2011, in the 800 block of Main Street in Belgium after a man living in a lower flat returned home to find someone entered his home and stole several shotguns and rifles, and a .357 Magnum handgun.

On May 3, another person reported someone had stolen a laptop computer from their residence and on May 28, another burglary was reported where a compound bow set was stolen along with jewelry and a safe.

But on July 12, one of the victims of the burglary found out another person was holding a rummage sale in Port Washington and some of the items matched those stolen from their home. And on July 27, a man called police after he bought a gun from Moulster and wanted to make sure the serial number was clean, but it turned out it was one stolen in a burglary.

On July 31, investigators bought another gun from Moulster in an undercover sting and he was taken into custody.

Moulster admitted to breaking into the homes and stealing items, saying he sold three of the guns to A-1 Gunsmith in Grafton. Officers searched his home in the 400 block of Harrison Street and found the stolen laptop as well.

Moulster is currently being held in Ozaukee County Jail on $5,000 bail.