Three people are wanted for breaking into the Gateway Arch riverboat attraction and Ed's Food Truck along the downtown St. Louis riverfront on July 30, according to police. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department says the suspects are facing potential charges of second-degree burglary and stealing, and investigators are now asking the public to help identify them.
The department shared the appeal in a Facebook post from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, titled “Recognize these three?” and labeled the case an “Attempt to Identify” for burglary in the second degree and stealing. Anyone with information is asked to contact St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers at 866-371-TIPS (8477), and tips submitted anonymously through the program that lead to a felony arrest can qualify for a cash reward, per the City of Ellisville's outline of how the nonprofit hotline operates.
Where the Break-In Happened
The targeted businesses sit along Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard, the riverfront promenade that runs along the Mississippi River levee just below the Arch grounds, an area Bi-State Development has described as a hub of seasonal foot traffic from tourists and food vendors alike. The Gateway Arch riverboats themselves are owned and operated by Bi-State Development, known as Metro, working in partnership with Gateway Arch National Park and the National Park Service, according to the National Park Service. The fleet's most recognizable vessels, 19th-century steamboat replicas named Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher, first arrived on the riverfront in 1964 to ferry passengers during construction of the Gateway Arch itself, a history Bi-State Development notes still draws roughly 170,000 visitors a year for cruises and events.
Police have not said how the suspects gained entry after hours, nor have they detailed what property or money, if any, was taken from either the riverboat operation or the food truck. Those specifics remain unknown for now, based on what SLMPD has released publicly.
What the Charges Would Mean
Second-degree burglary under Missouri Revised Statutes § 569.170 is a Class D felony defined as knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully in a building or structure with intent to commit a crime inside, and it does not require weapons, violence, or an occupant to be present, according to a breakdown from Combs Waterkotte. That distinction matters legally: Missouri law separates burglary from robbery under RSMo § 570.023, since robbery requires forcibly taking property directly from a person, while burglary does not involve direct confrontation, per an explanation from the Hammer Law Firm.
If convicted, the suspects could face up to seven years in state prison, up to a year in county jail, and fines as high as $10,000 for the Class D felony charges under RSMo § 569.170 and RSMo § 570.030, according to Richard H. Sindel, INC. Judges also have the option to grant probation or order restitution for stolen property in these cases, the same source notes.
Part of a Broader Downtown Trend
The riverfront case follows a pattern of high-profile burglaries at St. Louis tourist landmarks that have prompted police to circulate surveillance footage and appeal to the public, including a break-in at the City Museum last November. Even so, property crime in Downtown St. Louis and Downtown West has fallen 57.5% between 2022 and 2026, based on SLMPD neighborhood crime data reported by Hoodline, with motor vehicle thefts downtown also seeing notable declines over that stretch. Citywide, overall Part I crime dropped 16% in 2025, and homicides fell to 139 cases, the city's lowest annual total since 2013, according to SLMPD's year-end CompStat figures, a decline the department has attributed to targeted anti-crime task forces and operational planning.
Despite that broader downward trend, commercial break-ins at landmark attractions remain a concern for venue operators and police alike. For now, the case remains open, and anyone who recognizes the three individuals sought in the July 30 riverfront burglary is urged to reach out to St. Louis Regional CrimeStoppers, which accepts anonymous tips about the suspects' whereabouts.
