BRIEF: Fire home burglarized, police say

Oct. 23--WATERLOO -- Police are investigating a break-in at a home that was the scene of a fatal fire on Tuesday morning.

Firefighters found the body of 64-year-old Rebecca Lavenz in her Linden Avenue home around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday while responding to an alarm.

On Thursday, a relative told police Lavenz's home had been burglarized overnight. A TV, laptop computer, coins, jewelry, medications and two firearms were reported stolen from the house, according to the police report.

Capt. David Mohlis with the Waterloo Police Department said the back door had been forced open, and authorities believe the burglary happened sometime between 5 p.m. Wednesday, when an insurance investigator was at the house, and 1 p.m. Thursday, when relatives discovered the crime.

No arrests have been made in the break-in.

Fire officials ruled the fire was accidental, and the results of an autopsy for Lavenz are pending further tests, according to the Iowa Medical Examiner's Office. Authorities said no foul play is suspected in her death.

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