The Clayton Police Department had their hands full this past week, responding to nearly four hundred thirty calls for various incidents. Among these were cases of fraud, unlicensed driving, and suspected burglary, showcasing an array of breaches against the law and order of this Missouri suburb.
A Clayton resident started the week with a distressing revelation. They uncovered four unauthorized transactions made in December, which led to the discovery of forged checks using their account details, summing up to a bit over $160. Clayton Police Department reported that this incident has been passed on to the United States Postal Investigative Service for further investigation. Meanwhile, a traffic stop on the eastern side of town resulted in the arrest of a man driving without a license, and his noncompliance when directed by officers compounded his infractions.
Another encounter with the law occurred when police arrested an individual for panhandling on S. Brentwood Blvd. But it was the possession of other people’s identification and cards that turned a simple charge into something more complex, as it prompts the question of how deeply the wheels of theft and impersonation were threaded into this man’s livelihood. That same day, a vehicle break-in was discovered, no suspects or witness have yet to be found, the police search continues, as does the trail of shattered windows and untold reasons behind the act.
Officers weren't just busting unlawful drivers; they spotted a trespasser in a vacant building, leading to charges including burglary and possession of burglary tools. A traffic stop later unearthed a woman with a warrant for her arrest on a felony charge for stealing - compounding trouble for someone already driving without a valid driver’s license, according to the Clayton Police Department.
Not all crimes were so cut and dry, with a local bank employee alerting police about a former employee suspected of making unauthorized transactions, resulting in over $31,000 being flagged as altered or fictitious checks. And as if broken windows and fraud were not enough; the officers also received calls regarding a hit-and-run by a revoked-license driver, burglaries, and a duo of package thieves now in the hands of St. Louis County Family Courts.
Among the less nefarious, but still impactful events, citizens found their car windows broken, a storage locker forcibly opened, and a frustrating car crash, which luckily left no one injured. The Clayton Police Department continue their investigative efforts on these ongoing cases, maintaining their presence as guardians against the myriad of crimes that test the security of their streets.
