U-Haul Police Chase in West Allis, Retail Theft; 2 arrested

WEST ALLIS, Wis. – Police say a shoplifting incident at a West Allis Home Depot on Sunday, May 5, led to a highway chase involving an unexpected vehicle.

It’s something you definitely don’t see every day: a U-Haul truck leading West Allis police on a high-speed chase.

According to police, the two who were maneuvering through traffic in the speeding truck were 54-year-old Eric Jackson and 48-year-old Jennifer McGwire, both of Milwaukee, and both now in prison.

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines and breaking news emails from FOX6 News

On Sunday around 3:30 p.m., an employee noticed them stealing over $630 worth of merchandise and pushed the cart out of the store.

Eric Jackson and Jennifer McGwire

According to police, as soon as Jackson and McGwire left the store, they got back into the U-Haul and used the truck as a getaway vehicle.

This led to a 17-minute, 19-mile chase.

It all ended when the two went off the highway when the truck ran through stop bars twice and crashed into a patrol car near 82nd and Burleigh.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android.

During the arrest, officers found a crack pipe and naproxen pills in McGwire’s purse, as well as another crack pipe between the driver and passenger seats.

Jackson is charged with retail theft and bail jumping, while McGwire, the driver, is charged with retail theft, fleeing and second-degree recklessly endangering safety.