A 31-year-old Waukesha man is being held on a $15,000 cash bond, having been charged Friday for the second time in less than a year with allegedly stealing a vehicle from Waukesha’s International Autos, Inc.
Robert E. Frea was charged on June 14 in Waukesha County Circuit Court with operating a motor vehicle without owner’s consent, defrauding a gas station and two counts of felony bail jumping.
Frea was charged in September with burglary and in November he was charged with vehicle theft. In both cases Frea entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity and he was released on a $500 cash bond.
According to the criminal complaint, City of Waukesha Police were dispatched April 9 to International Autos, 2230 East Moreland Boulevard, after receiving reports of suspicious activity.
An employee told police that an employee had noticed that a Honda Civic belonging to Frea seemed to have been moved overnight. The employees were warned to keep an eye on the vehicle because it belonged to Frea, according to the complaint. Frea had allegedly taken a vehicle last year, but had returned it, the employee told police.
It was discovered during the investigation that Glendale Police had made a stop on a vehicle driven by Frea that they believe was stolen. The car, a 2013 Porsche 911 Carrera S, was valued at over $117,000 and had a International Autos license plate, the complaint reads.
The vehicle identification number for the Porsche confirmed that it was owned by International Autos, according to the complaint.
Waukesha Police learned that Glendale Police arrested Frea after a woman alleged he was stalking her. Frea also allegedly had driven off without paying a $47 bill at a Glendale gas station, according to the complaint.
International Autos told police that Frea had driven more than 170 miles in the stolen vehicle, according to the complaint. The business said that the vehicle had also been damaging, estimating a repair cost of over $1,000.
The business suspects that Frea was able to get access to the car keys by jimmying open a lock box, according to the complaint.
At an initial court appearance on Friday, a cash bond was set at $15,000 and Frea was ordered to have no contact with International Autos or its employees.
Frea could face up to 12 years in prison, $20,200 in fines, or both, if convicted.
His next expected court date is June 18.