Fenton police call it "car clotting," which is when thieves pop the lock on a car and steal the contents inside, or worse, the car itself.

Fenton Police Officer Aaron Dilks says there has been a sporadic number of car clottings in Fenton recently at such places as RiverChase, Gold's Gym, and the Great Escape Theater (details below).

"The best defense to this crime is lock your car doors and to keep your items out of sight or just don’t bring them at all," Dilks said. 

Dilks posed some questions for residents to remind them of precautions they should take to help prevent being victimized.

• Do you warm you car up in the driveway on these cold mornings?  Yes, car thieves know you do too. 

• Do you lock your car doors as it's warming up?  Most of you don’t. 

Dilks says: "Fenton is a very safe place and we don’t put much thought into this crime but precincts’ in North and Central St. Louis County are experiencing a rash of vehicles being stolen as they warm up, either in driveways, at gas stations, or at day cares.   I suggest that you do not leave a running vehicle unattended."

Here is the  weekly report of crime in Fenton:

Several vehicles had their locks popped and the contents from the interior stolen, including locations at:

• Red Robin, 130 Gravois Bluffs Circle, one vehicle.
• Gold's Gym, 635 Gravois Rd., one vehicle.
• RiverChase of Fenton, 990 Horan Ave., three vehicles.
• St. Louis Soccer Park, 185 Soccer Park Rd. one vehicle.

 A man selected a leather coat Nov. 26 at Kohl's 115 Gravois Bluffs Blvd., and walked out of the store wearing it, making no attempt to pay. He was arrested.

A man stuffed two hats, a package of AAA batteries, two DVDs, a pair of sunglesses, a T-shirt and a necklace down the front of his pants Nov. 27 at Walmart, 653 Gravois Bluffs Blvd., and left the store without paying. He was arrested.

A man concealed two bottles of alcohol Dec. 28 at Walmart, 653 Gravois Bluffs Blvd., and exited the store without paying. He was arrested.

A North Face jacket was stolen from an unlocked locker Nov. 28 at RiverChase of Fenton, 990 Horan Ave. An investigation is ongoing.

Three juveniles concealed several bags of chips, beef jerky, snack cakes, candy bars, candy canes, chocolate milk, ice cream, soda, men's T-shirts shirts, ping pong balls, ink cartridges for pens, a robe, soap, deodorant, and two bottles of liquor Nov. 30 at Walmart, 653 Gravois Bluffs Blvd., then left the store without paying. All were charged and released to their guardians.

A man refused to leave the Hot Shots bar, 950 South Hwy. Dr., Nov. 30 when instructed by the bouncer to do so, and then punched the bouncer in the mouth. A summons was issued.

A highly intoxicated woman was causing a disturbance Dec. 2 in the hallways of the Drury Inn, 1088 South Hwy. Dr., and refused to return to her room. She was arrested.

For questions about this report, contact Dan Barger at Dan.Barger@patch.com.