Two Western Wisconsin men were arrested April 9 in connection with a string of burglaries across several Wisconsin and Minnesota, counties including entering two Genoa-area homes in daylight with an axe.

The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office in Viroqua reported April 22 that Ricardo Briones, 26, Onalaska, and Duncan Wisland, 29, Holmen, were arrested by the Cashton Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.

Briones and Wisland are suspects in two burglaries in the town of Genoa April 7 in which homes were entered forcibly by using an axe to disable door locks. The homes were ransacked, and many items were taken.

Wisland was apprehended while attempting to sell stolen jewelry from burglaries in both Vernon County and Winona County, Minn., at a La Crosse business. The Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies had sent out information about items stolen, which the store, River City Gold and Silver Exchange, identified. The business called authorities.

Burglary charges are being sought against the pair through the Vernon County District Attorney’s office. They are also under investigation in other jurisdictions.