A 24-year-old Fort McCoy man was recently arrested on burglary and theft charges after he allegedly broke into a local residence and stole a safe containing a firearm.

On Monday, Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a home located on N U.S. Highway 19 in Fort McCoy in reference to a burglary incident. Upon arrival, a female victim told the deputies that she had returned home from running errands and discovered that the doors to her home were locked, which is “not how she left them,” according to the arrest report.

The victim stated that while waiting for her landlord to arrive to let her into the home, she heard a noise from the back of her residence. According to the victim’s statement, she then saw a man with dark hair who was wearing black shorts, a black shirt, and a white face covering, and the man was carrying something in his hands.

When the victim was able to enter her home, she advised that her safe ($350 value) containing her Sig Sauer handgun ($500 value) and a carved ivory figurine ($300 value) had been removed from the residence, along with a pouch containing around $10 worth of quarters. In addition, the report stated that her groceries had been placed in bags, along with cleaning supplies, prescription medication, and silverware.

A female neighbor told the deputies that a man had been observed walking towards a gate behind the victim’s property with something in his hands. As the neighbor approached the gate, she heard a loud noise that sounded like something being thrown over the fence, according to the report.

An MCSO corporal approached the fence in question and located the victim’s safe. The report stated that after opening the safe, the corporal observed the victim’s firearm and figurine were still inside.

The neighbor had recorded video footage of the male suspect who had walked through her yard. After viewing this footage, one of the deputies located a man, identified as Dusten James Mathes, who was wearing the same clothing as the suspect in the video, according to the report.

After being read his Miranda rights, Mathes allegedly admitted to being in the area of the burglary, though he denied entering the victim’s home. The corporal noted in the report that the victim’s missing pouch was found in Mathes’ possession, though he claimed that he had found it on the grass near the neighbor’s home.

When Mathes was informed that he was facing an armed burglary charge in connection with the theft of the victim’s firearm, he allegedly stated that he “didn’t know there was a gun in the safe.” The report stated that Mathes further claimed that he “never opened (the safe).”

Mathes was arrested and transported to Marion County Jail, where he is currently being held without bond. He is being charged with armed burglary of a dwelling, grand theft of a firearm, and grand theft from a residence of more than $100 but less than $750.

A court date has not been scheduled yet, according to jail records.