Clayton PD Investigating Cases Of Attempted Thefts From Vehicles

Press release from the City of Clayton:

Publish Date:01/11/2021 12:53 PM

For the reporting period of Monday, January 4th – Sunday, January 10th, the CPD responded to 384 calls for service, including 12 vehicle accidents & 25 calls to assist the fire department. Among those calls were the following incidents:

Officers responded to a restaurant in the 7700 block of Forsyth after a man stole money from the tip jar Monday evening. While reviewing the store surveillance video, employees identified the suspect as an employee at another nearby restaurant. The man was contacted at his place of employment & after admitting to the theft, he was arrested for stealing 4th or subsequent offense. He was released from the scene & warrants will be applied for at a later date.

Late Monday night, a resident of the 900 block of S. Hanley requested assistance in removing an intoxicated acquaintance from his residence. The man initially complied & was seen leaving the area in a cab. Less than an hour later, the man returned in a cab. Officers observed him enter his parked vehicle & attempt to drive away. He was arrested for DWI. This is his 3rd alcohol-related driving offense.

Early Thursday morning, a CVS employee reported a man attempted to steal a basket filled with bottles of alcohol. The employee confronted the man & was able to pull the basket away from the man. He entered a black sedan, which was last seen heading westbound on I-64.

Just before 5 am Thursday morning, a CPD officer was on patrol in the area of S. Brentwood & Francis Place when he observed a motorized scooter on fire. The officer was able to quickly & safely extinguish the fire. While on the scene, the officer learned the man has an arrest history with recent stealing & vehicle theft charges. There was no evidence he was involved in criminal activity at the time of the fire & he was sent on his way.

An unknown driver left the scene of an accident Thursday night after striking a vehicle parked in the 7700 block of Forsyth. Debris left behind suggests the striking vehicle was a black Kia Forte. No witnesses have come forward & the driver has not been identified.

Friday morning, a resident of the 900 block of S. Hanley reported someone was walking around the exterior of their condo building at 4:15 am. The subject was located nearby & officers recognized him as the same man from the scooter fire. At the time, he was in possession of a clear backpack, containing, among other things, several hand tools. When asked what he was doing, he claimed he was attempting to familiarize himself with the area. Finally, officers contacted the man again Friday evening after observing him riding a bicycle in the central business district. He initially claimed the bicycle was his; however, he later stated he found it near the Galleria. The bicycle was seized as found property & attempts are underway to locate the owner.

Surveillance footage from a resident in the 500 block of S. Meramec captured a male suspect entering the home's driveway early Sunday morning. The suspect walked directly to the resident's parked vehicle & attempted to open the doors. At the time, the suspect was holding a handgun & was wearing orange pants, a dark jacket, & a ski mask. A second video showed the subject running through a front yard as a slow-moving vehicle followed him on S. Meramec. These subjects are believed to have rummaged through several vehicles in the area & may be connected to a vehicle theft from a neighboring jurisdiction. The CPD is working with that department on the ongoing investigation.

Lastly, World News employees confronted a customer Sunday afternoon when he attempted to steal magazines. The man purchased other items but yelled at the employees, causing a peace disturbance before he departed. Officers located him nearby & informed him he was no longer welcome in the store & would be arrested for trespassing should he attempt to return.

Anyone with information regarding ongoing investigations is asked to contact the CPD.

We ask you to continue including a #9pmRoutine in your daily habits. Removing anything of value from your vehicles, including keys & remotes, reduces the opportunity for crime & increases our community's safety. If you observe someone checking car handles or walking into driveways or backyards, especially overnight or in the early morning hours, do not hesitate to call 911. Be prepared to describe the suspicious activity, the suspect(s) & their direction of travel. Please do not put yourself or others in harm's way by confronting the subject(s).

Until next week, stay safe!

This press release was produced by the City of Clayton. The views expressed here are the author’s own.