A&M Cyclery, the nearly 100-year-old bike shop on Arsenal Street near Tower Grove Park, was hit by burglars again early Friday, the second break-in there in just two weeks. Security cameras show two people dragging three bicycles out through a hole cut into the building, and owner Jeff Gerhardt says the stolen bikes and damage together will run about $10,000. For one of South City's longest-running small businesses, it is a gut punch on repeat.
How the thieves forced entry and what they took
Gerhardt says his alarm company called around 3:30 a.m. Friday. When he pulled up the shop's security feed, he watched suspects use an angle grinder, screwdrivers and a power driver to carve out an opening, then pull bikes through the gap. In this latest hit, they took a road bike worth about $1,700 and two e-bikes valued at roughly $2,000 each. A previous break-in on May 24 cost the shop two e-bikes valued at about $3,000.
One of the recently stolen bikes was later recovered after a customer spotted it in an alley. Police are still looking for the suspects, according to First Alert 4.
A neighborhood fixture since 1929
A&M Cyclery traces its roots back to 1929 and lists its storefront at 4284 Arsenal St on its website. Current owners Jeff and Erin Gerhardt bought the shop in 2019 and reopened it after a remodel in 2021, keeping the business in the running as one of the city's oldest continuously operating bike retailers, according to A&M Cyclery.
Police response and citywide crime figures
Police are investigating both burglaries at the shop. City data show reported burglary and breaking-and-entering were down 34% through the end of May compared with the same period last year, and destruction and vandalism of property were down 24% citywide. In District Two, burglary is down 29% while destruction and vandalism are roughly flat, according to the St. Louis Police Department.
Owner: "This is targeted" and community support
Gerhardt told First Alert 4 he is convinced the shop was singled out. "This is targeted. This wasn't just a random thing," he said. He described suspects moving quickly, with a spotter watching for passing cars, and said neighbors stepped up after the first break-in, dropping off cookies and other donations to support the staff.
Anyone with information about the burglaries is asked to call the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department non-emergency number at 314-231-1212. Tips can also be shared with St. Louis Regional Crime Stoppers, and the department posts contact details on its website, according to the St. Louis Police Department.
