UWM TechStore and Panther Shop Victim of Burglary

On Monday, March 13, the UWM Techstore notified UWM police about a burglary that took place on Friday, March 10, after the store was closed due to a winter storm.

The Tech Store is located in the UWM student union on the first floor and inside of the Panther Shop.

The burglary was discovered after Techstore manager, Justin DuPont conducted an inventory check on the Apple products allegedly sold in the store.

According to DuPont, he then realized that there was a discrepancy in the products count.

After the discovery, DuPont then reviewed the video footage on the store’s surveillance cameras and discovered a white male who had entered the store three times.

On the third entry, the suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Evan Bailey Sollinger, apparently located the keys to the locked cabinets in the store and allegedly took various Apple products.

UWM police also spoke with the manager of the Panther Shop and asked if she had done an inventory check as well.

It was later noted from the surveillance footage, that Sollinger was apparently wearing a UWM hat that the Panther Shop supposedly sells frequently.

The Panther Shop manager then reviewed the store’s video footage and claimed that she saw Sollinger allegedly exiting the store with boxes of clothes and other items.

After she completed the inventory check, she stated that $5,402 worth of clothes and other merchandise was allegedly taken. In total, $14,028.95 worth of merchandise was lost from both stores.

Milwaukee Police later stated that allegedly $1,500 worth of merchandise was retrieved from a bus shelter located on Downer Ave.

Additionally, Sollinger stated in the criminal complaint that he was allegedly going to meet a local drug dealer by the name of “T.”

He then admitted to police that he allegedly entered the facilities and stole merchandise after discovering the side entrance door was open.

According to the criminal complaint, Sollinger told police that he supposedly has struggled with drug addiction since he was 17 and has recently become addicted to fentanyl. He also stated in the criminal complaint that he would come to the UWM campus and talk to students and hang out.

Sollinger will possibly be fined $25,000 or spend 12 years and six months in jail according to the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.

UWM Police is currently partnering with the Union management, TechStore, and Panther Shop to prevent future burglaries.