Couple accused of stealing from people's homes while they were at funerals

Burglary charges have been filed against a couple who police say had a “hit list of homes.” Police in Muskego, Whitefish Bay, Hartford, Wauwatosa and the Washington County Sheriff's Office worked together to catch the suspects.

Jesse James Bullis, 31, and his girlfriend, 23, Emily Gabel were arrested. Investigators said they found jewelry, electronics and a handwritten funeral log with names, addresses and times of funerals in several cities in the area inside their home.

One of the homes targeted is located on North Lake Shore Drive in Whitefish Bay. On May 14 the victims came home from a funeral and noticed a shoe footprint on their kitchen counter and missing jewelry, according to the criminal complaint.

The victim didn't want to go on camera. However, she said she still hasn't recovered some of the jewelry.

TJ Jensen lives nearby and he said he found out about the robberies when he came back home from out of town.

\"We've known them for 20 something years and it was tragic that people will comb the funeral announcement and then break in while you are off at a funeral,\" he said.

The couple would look through obituaries to find their victims, police said. Authorities were able to catch the suspects through surveillance video and fraudulent online activity.

\"When we moved in, people didn't even lock their door but that was a long time ago and now you lock your door and the first floor windows are locked if we're not home,\" Jensen said.

Gabel is scheduled to be in court next Tuesday and Bullis' court date hasn't been set.