Racine Man Foils Storage Unit Burglary by Jumping Into Burglars’ Pickup Truck

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Donald Lockwood, 41, arrived at his storage unit at J & L Storage, 4534 Douglas Ave on October 22, 2009. He soon realized that offenders were loading loading his microwave and a bag of his linens into a pickup truck that had no front license plate. Lockwood called 9-1-1 and jumped into the bed of his pickup truck to get his microwave back. Antonio Pealer yelled at Lockwood as he saw him in his truck, offered him money so that he wouldn’t call police, and them began to punch Lockwood and try to pull him out of the truck. Pealer then jumped into the driver’s seat of the pickup truck and started to drive away with Lockwood still in the bed of the pickup truck with his stuff.

As they drove away from the storage unit, sometimes at speeds up to 70 mph in the rain, Lockwood updated the 9-1-1 center with the travel route of the truck. Pealer tried to shake Lockwood loose by swerving left and right.

Pealer and his accomplices stopped the truck and dragged Lockwood out of the truck and fought with Lockwood, then fled. As they began to flee, the Racine County Sheriff pulled up, and made a traffic stop.

Antonio D. Pealer, 32, was charged with three counts of burglary, robbery, first-degree reckless endangerment, possession of burglary tools and misdemeanor battery. If convicted, Pealer faces up to 69 years in prison.

Cindy L. Gutche, 40, was charged with three counts of burglary. If convicted Gutche faces up to 37 years in prison.

James N. Hagen, 42, was charged as a repeat offender with three counts of burglary and misdemeanor battery. If convicted Hagen faces up to 55 years in prison.

Lockwood went to Pealer, Gutche and Hagen’s initial court appearances last week and got copies of the criminal complaints filed against them. He drove past their residences, which are all in the 1800 block of 104th Street in Pleasant Prairie, and noticed more stolen property that he knew had been previously stolen from other customers of the storage units. Lockwood reported the location of the stolen property. Police are investigating.

Lockwood, a veteran combat medic, told interviewers he was not afraid, and was raised by his father on Psalm 91, which he told his fellow troops in

Psalm 91

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]

2 I will say [b] of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 91 (New International Version)


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