In the coming days and weeks you will likely notice some new signs around the City that are designed to promote healthy conversation, strengthen the partnership of the police department and community, and ultimately promote and enhance community safety and security. This campaign is to remind everyone of the importance of locking their vehicles and closing their garage doors. It’s to remind everyone of the power, we, as a community have in criminal deterrence, especially when all of us work together. The signage says “Lock it or Lose it” and we want you to be a part of it!
Lieutenant Josh Gilliam said “The police department and community are in partnership to reduce and prevent crime. We will always be reliant of each other to have success in this overall mission. Although the Lake Saint Louis community enjoys an extremely low crime rate, we are not immune from criminal activity. In 2019 the Lake Saint Louis Police Department has seen a disturbing and growing trend of property crimes involving unlocked motor vehicles and unsecured open garage doors. This trend of property crimes has included the theft of actual vehicles, cash, credit and debit cards, gift cards, personal valuables, and even the theft of firearms and handguns.
Here are some interesting patterns in these property crimes that our patrol officers and investigators have noticed recently:
-INCREASE in theft from within vehicles left by owners unlocked and unsecured. When a suspect does try to open a locked vehicle, they most often move on quickly after discovering a vehicle was locked. Suspects believe they can move along and find a “softer target”. Suspects have told our investigators it’s not a matter of “if” they will find a vehicle unlocked, it’s a matter of “how many” unlocked vehicles they will find
-INCREASE in theft of vehicles with keys or fob left in vehicle. In 2019, vehicles are simply too complex for a suspect to “hotwire”.
-DECREASE in force being used to illegally break into vehicles in Lake Saint Louis. It simply draws too much attention and police response time it too fast. In the extremely rare instances that force is used to gain entry to a vehicle, valuables (such as a purse or wallet) were usually left in the vehicle in plain sight
-Many property crime occurrences are occurring at night between midnight and 6:00 am under cover of darkness. Suspects have also used inclement weather (Rain, extreme cold, or snow) as cover knowing its lessens the chance to encounter someone that can notify police
INCREASE in criminal suspects coming from well outside our local community. Suspects traveling greater distances to come to Lake Saint Louis specifically for the purpose of committing property crimes.
Check out our “Facebook” page for other criminal deterrence information.
The Lake Saint Louis Police Department Patrol Division invites any resident that observes suspicious person(s) or activity to immediately call 911 for a crime in progress or 636-625-8018 for other inquiries.