Crime & Safety

Police: Smash-And-Grab Car Thefts, Suspects Arrested

To avoid being victimized by thieves, police suggest keeping cars free of tempting items like phones, chargers, wallets and coins.

Police arrested two suspects and caught two more on camera earlier this month on suspicion of breaking into cars to steal phone chargers, wallets and other items left in vehicles.

Residents of Herault Place, Dumont Place and Blue Ridge Drive called police on October 20 to report subjects breaking into cars in the neighborhood, according to the St. Louis County Police South County Precinct weekly crime blotter.

Police arrested one suspect after a foot chase. The other suspect was arrested in a Chevy Silverado, which contained several radar detectors, GPS units, CDs and phone chargers.

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On October 15, three cars were broken into in the parking lot of Orlando Gardens.

Police say the lot is attractive to thieves because residents leave items in the car before going to the walking trail nearby.

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Video surveillance shows two suspects in a red and silver SUV smash windows and steal wallets from three cars before leaving the lot two minutes later.

Police say the typical smash-and-grab car break in requires less than 90 seconds.

To avoid being victimized, police suggest keeping cars free of tempting items like phones, chargers, wallets and coins.

For more crime news, check out these Mehlville-Oakville Patch stories:

  • Crime Report: Two Cars Stolen from Orlando Gardens
  • Crime Report: Four Cars Broken Into at Orlando Gardens


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