DUBUQUE, IOWA – Two Dubuque men are facing multiple charges after a rash of burglaries around the Northern Iowa region.
On March 23, 2017, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation filed eleven charges on Jay J. Mess, 26, and Lee W. Shaffer, 31, both of 808½ Rhomberg Avenue, Dubuque. The charges include Ongoing Criminal Conduct, Burglary 3rd Degree (5 counts), Attempted Burglary 3rd Degree, Criminal Mischief 3rd Degree (2 counts), Theft 2nd Degree, and Theft 4th Degree. The charges stem from an ongoing investigation spanning several jurisdictions and law enforcement agencies in the tristate area.
The alleged criminal activity spanned November 2016 through February 2017 and occurred at the West Side Car Wash in Farley, Country Car Wash in Manchester, Peosta Car & Truck Wash, Awesome Car Wash II in Maquoketa, Laundry Max in Maquoketa, Theisen’s in DeWitt, Awesome Car Wash in DeWitt, Frog’s Auto in Clinton, and West End Car Wash in Dubuque. As part of the investigation, a search warrant was executed at the suspects’ residence in Dubuque. Items involved in, or stolen during the burglaries were recovered. Dubuque Police have also filed charges on both for allegedly stealing a truck from Tranz Tec Transmission Specialists and then using it to steal a construction trailer from Cavendish Lane in Dubuque. Both have since been recovered.
Both Mess and Shaffer remain incarcerated in the Grant County (WI) Jail on separate, but similar charges.
