Neighbor accused of stealing and pawning woman's jewelry - Kenosha News
A 53-year-old Kenosha man was arrested after he allegedly used a key he was given for emergencies to enter a neighbor’s home and steal her jewelry, including a wedding ring that was melted down for the metal value before it could be recovered.
Philip L. Tabili Sr. was charged Wednesday with burglary and theft. He is being held on $20,000 bond.
According to the criminal complaint, Tabili’s neighbor, who is in her 70s, noticed in August that much of her jewelry was missing. She estimated the value of the jewelry at $5,000.
The woman spoke to her daughter, who told police she had approached Tabili, to whom they had given a spare key for emergencies, and asked him about the jewelry.
According to the complaint, he admitted he had stolen the jewelry and pawned it.
The complaint states that another of the woman’s daughters went to the pawn shop and was able to recover much of the jewelry, but some of it had already been melted down, including the wedding band that belonged to the woman’s late husband.
According to the complaint, Tabili admitted to a detective that he had taken the jewelry and sold it for $600 “and used the money on a cocaine binge.” He gave the house key to police, who returned it to the woman.
The victim had initially declined to sign a complaint but later changed her mind. Tabili was arrested at his home on Tuesday.
