The streets of Shrewsbury have been active with both petty crime and concerted law enforcement as police there report a series of vehicle break-ins and a unique arrest. A traffic stop on Watson Road led to the arrest of a driver who not only brandished a fake and expired temporary tag but was also driving without a license or insurance, and had failed to register the car. This multi-infraction stop took place on September 8, according to the Shrewsbury Police Crime Report.
In another incident, the community saw a string of vehicle burglaries with items, including two firearms, being stolen. Police received calls early Saturday, alerting them to a suspect prowling in the 5000 block of Wilshusen and subsequent areas. Although the initial search didn't pan out, the persistence of officers paid off when a suspect was spotted and caught after a foot chase on the morning of September 13. A torn off wrapper to a bag of trail mix connected him to the crimes, leading to the moniker "the trail mix bandit," as noted in statement obtained by Shrewsbury Police Crime Report.
During the week spanning September 8th through 14th, Shrewsbury officers kept busy beyond these highlighted events. They responded to three auto accidents and numerous calls regarding suspicious activity and thefts. Furthermore, they supported the Fire Department on forty occasions and conducted forty-four traffic stops, emphasizing directed enforcement in recognized problem areas.
The suspect involved in the vehicle thefts is a 48-year-old man from St. Ann, currently in custody at Saint Louis County Justice Services. The Saint Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has issued felony charges against him, with more counts anticipated as the investigation continues and crime lab results come in.
