Several Vehicles Stolen from Ellisville Auto Dealer

Thieves stole at least eight vehicles from the Royal Gate Dodge auto dealer at 15502 Manchester Road in Ellisville early Wednesday, the Ellisville Police Department said.

Ellisville Police Sgt. Nancy Walker said at least four subjects drove onto the dealership grounds at 12:20 a.m. The subjects arrived in a 2011 Toyota Camry, which had been reported stolen from Frank Leta Honda in O’Fallon.

Beginning around 2:20 a.m., the first wave of vehicles were stolen from the Ellisville dealership  — vehicles that were accessed via lock-boxes secured to the vehicles’ windows, then driven off the dealership grounds.

The Toyota Camry that was stolen from Frank Leta Honda was abandoned at Royal Gate when the subjects initially left.

The suspects returned around 3:30 a.m. in a just-stolen 2008 Dodge Avenger to commit a second-wave of thefts.

The stolen vehicles included a 2008 Pontiac Grand Am, a 2008 Pontiac G6, a 2009 Dodge Charger, a 2008 Dodge Charger, a 2007 Dodge Charger, a 2008 Chrysler 300, two 2008 Dodge Challengers and a 2002 Ford Mustang.

The 2008 Dodge Charger and the 2010 Challenger have since been recovered by St. Louis County Police, Walker said. The Charger was found on Ross Circle in North St. Louis County.

Walker said Ellisville police are in the process of reviewing security footage to help identify the suspects.

A ninth vehicle was reported stolen Wednesday but not seen on security footage, Walker said, while a tenth vehicle appeared to have been stolen during a previous theft from Royal Gate Dodge.

Walker said her department may send letters to local car dealers reiterating the department’s opposition to using lockboxes in commercial lots.

“Years ago, we had talked to the dealerships and we pretty much had all of them not using them,” Walker said. “They’re very convenient for the sales managers, but if they leave them on (the vehicles) at night, it’s really easy for someone to break them open.”

Anyone with information that may assist with the above investigations is encouraged to contact the . If you would like to contact the department anonymously, you may do so through St. Louis Regional Crimestoppers.