Cedar Rapids women charged after alleged Iowa City burglary

Hunter
07/03/24

Two Cedar Rapids women were taken into custody Sunday afternoon after allegedly attempting to burglarize a residence.

The incident reportedly took place on 500th Street SE, north of Hills.  According to the arrest report, 51—year-old Josephine Mello and 70-year-old Wendy Wilkinson-Senneff entered the unoccupied structure after gaining access through a chained-off fence gate inside the property and then securing the gate behind them.

When confronted, the two allegedly admitted to having the intent of taking items they saw of value for their personal possession.  One of the items from the house was reportedly already in the bed of the women’s pickup truck.

Mello and Wilkinson-Senneff were each charged with 3rd degree burglary, a Class D Felony punishable by a prison sentence of up to five years if convicted.