Instagramming the Evidence: Greendale Man Charged with Theft

A 21-year-old Greendale man and an 18-year-old Cudahy woman are accused of stealing jewelry during a friend’s party in Elm Grove and then posting Instagram pictures of them wearing the pieces.

Daniel Talavera, of Greendale, and Kayissa A. Ambriz, of Cudahy, were charged Jan. 17 in Waukesha County Circuit Court with felony theft as a party to a crime. If convicted, they face up to three years in prison and $10,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

An Elm Grove woman reported she returned home from a trip to Chicago on Jan. 13 when she noticed items were missing from her room and her daughters’ rooms. Missing items included:

• A ruby ring with two gold bands
• A sapphire and diamond ring
• A crucifix necklace
• A gold necklace with diamonds
• More than a dozen other rings
• Blank checks
• A Macbook Pro
• An iPod
• A Nook tablet
• $50

The woman told police the value of the missing items was around $6,500.

Police talked to the woman’s 18-year-old son, who admitted he had a party with five people. The son told police after the party he slept in the basement with Talavera and Ambriz. When he woke up, he said the two individuals were gone.

Police learned Ambriz had an Instagram account and that she had posted pictures to the application of her exhaling smoke while wearing the missing crucifix necklace. Ambriz also posted pictures on Instagram with the rings on her hand.

Police contacted Ambriz and found her in her room with the missing jewelry. She denied receiving stolen property, but then said she got the items from “Daniel.” She also said she couldn’t remember what she had done when she was out with friends the night of Jan. 12.

Investigators located an iPod at Talvera’s house when they executed a search warrant. Talavera denied stealing the items but claimed Ambriz tried to sell the electronics to him.

Police also observed text messages between Ambriz and Talavera where they discussed the stolen property. Talavera told him he tried to sell the laptop for $1,200 but someone else offered him a pit bull puppy in exchange for the computer. Talavera told police that an unknown person “played” Ambriz and “she gave it to the wrong person.” The unknown person made off with the laptop without paying for it, he told police.