MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee police say a naked burglar tried to break into a veterinary clinic to steal drugs but got stuck in the air vents for almost 12 hours.

Police Lt. Mark Stanmeyer says employees of the Small Animal Hospital in Milwaukee came into work Monday morning and heard the muffled screams of someone calling for help. They discovered the 19-year-old stuck in a narrow shaft.

The teen had crawled into the vent Sunday about 9 p.m., meaning he spent about half a day in the vent.

Stanmeyer says the teen suffered multiple cuts and scrapes from screws.

Police Capt. Aaron Raap says the man had stripped naked on the roof before breaking into the vent, perhaps to prevent his clothes from snagging on screws.

The man faces an attempted-burglary charge.


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