10+ cars broken into downtown, victim shocked that police didn’t show up
“It is the same information that is being documented, whether a police officer shows up or you’re telling our telephone reporting unit”
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - First Alert 4 found more than a dozen piles of glass Thursday after car break-ins near Busch Stadium.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police confirmed thieves struck during Tuesday’s Cardinals game.
On Thursday, piles of glass remain along S 9th and Chouteau. Justin Kralemann says the glass is from his and other drivers’ broken windows. It’s all that’s left from a string of car break-ins that happened while he was at the game.
Frustration is the only way he can describe it. Kralemann says it was his first Cardinal’s game of the year, and it’s left a poor taste in his mouth, but he says the police’s response made it even worse.
“The car next to mine was actually a family visiting from out of town, it was their first time in St. Louis, they had two young kids, they were the ones that actually called the police. The police told them that they wouldn’t be sending anyone to do any reporting unless a gun was stolen out of one of the vehicles,” said Justin Kralemann. “It’s really disappointing.”
“It’s so discouraging to hear someone say, ‘Well, it’s a car break-in, no one is showing up.’ We’re taking it just as seriously,” said Mitch McCoy.
Mitch McCoy with St. Louis Metro Police says if no weapon is stolen from a vehicle, your first option would be to file a police report over the phone.
“It is the same information that is being documented whether a police officer shows up or you’re telling our telephone reporting unit,” said McCoy.
But he adds, if you want an officer to show up after a car break-in, you can ask, and they will. He also said, even if you don’t see an officer, it doesn’t mean the police aren’t there.
SLMPD says they’ll keep looking at their resources to make sure they’re keeping an eye on crime hotspots, something Kralemann would appreciate when coming downtown.
“I think the City really needs to focus on safety: concerts, sporting events, conferences. They’re all really important economic drivers in our region, and people have to feel safe to come downtown,” said Kralemann.
McCoy did tell First Alert 4 they did receive a report about this incident, he says as of the other day it was incomplete but the investigation is still ongoing.
Police ask that you keep reporting these crimes, as they help police solve crimes down the line.
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