Irreplaceable prototypes were among US$10,000 goods stolen after a man allegedly spent six hours inside a closed Wisconsin exhibition hall.
Police were called to the Alliant Energy Center Hall, in Madison, on June 26 after a report of a theft.
Exhibitors told investigators items were missing from 17 stands.
“Many of the stolen items were one-of-a-kind prototypes and not replaceable,” said Madison Police Chief Scott Gregory in a written statement.
“Some of the items were not even slated for the public market until 2016.”
At the time of the alleged theft, two trade fairs were using the centre.
Police believe two workers, contracted by one trade show at the venue, entered a second trade show at about 11pm on June 25 and left 30 minutes later.
One man allegedly returned to the centre at about midnight, before removing items from vendors’ displays.
“The suspect incidentally was able to remain undetected by the cleaning personnel all night by hiding and moving when the cleaners were moving around,” Chief Gregory said.
Police later recovered $10,000 of allegedly stolen property from a hotel room, where a man was sleeping.
A 25-year-old man from Eugene, Oregon, has been charged with 17 counts of theft and one count of burglary.
