Sunday, May 5, 2013
A couple of readers debate whether victims bear any responsibility for crime. What do you think?
In Des Peres last week, a handful of cars and homes were burglarized in a residential neighborhood—a serious enough "spree" that the city blasted an email and text alert to the neighborhoods. As it happens, the burglar got into some unlocked cars, used the garage door opener and walked into a pair of houses in which the inside door was not locked. The report brought on this comment from a reader: "A person would not lock their car outside overnight (or anytime) because? And with a home garage door opener and valuables inside? Is this laziness or stupidity?" Another reader who said she was was one of the victims took offense: "I hope you are never a victim. You are acting like it was our fault." What do you think? Do we bear any …
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
James Bright has been sentenced to 10 years in prison as part of a plea deal, stltoday.com reports. Bright and another man broke into the coach's home Dec. 31.
A High Ridge man has been sentenced for his involvement in a burglary at the home of Rob Boras, the St. Louis Rams tight ends coach. James Bright, of the 6200 block of Sunshine Drive, was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison as part of a plea deal, according to an article on stltoday.com. The plea deal dismissed other cases pending against Bright. Bright, 25, and Jeffrey Medcalf, of the 1100 block of Briarhurst in West County, were charged in January with second-degree burglary and felony stealing in the Dec. 31 incident at the coach's Kirkwood home. As previously reported on Patch, the men stole a gold NFC championship ring, two gold Southwestern Conference championship rings and a gold Big 12 championship ring, according to a Kirkwood …
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Two High Ridge men are being charged with second-degree burglary in connection to multiple High Ridge incidents.
Two High Ridge men have been charged in connection with multiple home burglaries. Matthew Ehlen, 18, of the 5600 block of Circle Drive, and David Howard, 22, of the 3100 block of Carlton Drive, have been charged with second-degree burglary. According to court documents, the burglaries occurred in five High Ridge locations: in the 2500 block of Woburn Drive; 2500 block of Somerville Road; 2800 block of Williams Creek Road; 3300 block of Walnut Ridge; and 6000 block of Antire Road. They happened between September 2012 and Jan. 19, 2013, according to court documents. The suspects also admitted to stealing from about 20 total houses, according to documents. In court documents, Jefferson County police stated that Howard admitted to acting …
Friday, January 11, 2013
James Bright and another man allegedly stole more than $28,000 in electronics, including NFC and Big 12 championship rings, which have been melted down by a Fenton company.
Two men allegedly stole more than $28,000 in electronics and jewelry, including NFC and Big 12 championship rings, on Dec. 31 from the home of Rob Boras, the St. Louis Rams tight ends coach. James Bright, of the 6200 block of Sunshine Drive in High Ridge, and Jeffrey Medcalf, of the 1100 block of Briarhurst in West County, were charged Friday with second-degree burglary and felony stealing more than $25,000, a class B felony. The men stole a gold NFC championship ring, two gold Southwestern Conference championship rings, a gold Big 12 championship ring, a gold charm bracelet, two video game consoles, two flat-screen televisions, six wristwatches, 20 video games, an iPhone 4 and other items, according to the Kirkwood police report. Two of …
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
The man stole an autographed jersey and electronics, and also sold stolen gold, Edward Jones insignia jewelry.
A High Ridge man burglarized a Wildwood home in early December and also pawned gold Edward Jones jewelry, St. Louis County Police said. James S. Bright, 25, of the 6200 block of Sunshine Drive in High Ridge, was charged Saturday with second-degree burglary, felony theft and receiving stolen property. St. Louis County Police said Bright broke into a home in the 500 block of Nantucket Pointe Drive in Wildwood between 7:30 a.m. and 5:45 p.m. Dec. 7. According to the police report, he stole an autographed sports jersey, 46-inch flat-screen TV and an iMac computer monitor. Bright also is charged with selling a gold Edward Jones insignia ring with diamonds, a gold wedding ring and an Edward Jones anniversary gold pin on Dec. 8. He was captured …
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Weekly incident reports from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department.
The following was reported by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department. Flint Drive, Fenton A woman on Flint Drive reported that on October 19 she saw her kitchen light turn on at 12:30 a.m. by itself. When she investigated the light, she found an unknown white man standing in her kitchen. She scared off the would be thief by throwing a clothes hanger at him. The man left the home through the front door without further incident. Sheriff's deputies determined the man had entered the home through an unlocked rear door. Nothing was reported stolen. (See related on Patch: 'Mine, Not Yours' Message Was No Deterrent to Tool Thief)
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
St. Louis County Police said they caught the man a short time later with jewelry stolen from the home.
- POLICE & FIRE
- Joe Scott
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Tuesday, October 23, 2012
A West County resident arrived home about 1:43 a.m. Oct. 12 to see a burglar running out a back door in home in the 300 block of Messina Drive. St. Louis County Police said they caught the man a short distance away, with four pieces of jewelry from the home in Sorrento Springs Estates just south of Ballwin. Christopher Purtle, 32, of the 2100 block of Boxwood Lane in High Ridge, was charged Oct. 13 with first-degree burglary, misdemeanor stealing and possession of drug-related items. Police said Purtle stole three rings and a necklace from the home, and that he had hypodermic needles when he was arrested. Purtle is being held in St. Louis County jail in lieu of a $30,000 bond. For more crime information on Fenton-High Ridge Patch, see the …
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
The man was charged with second-degree burglary and property damage.
- POLICE & FIRE
- Joe Scott
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Tuesday, October 2, 2012
St. Louis County Police arrested a Jefferson County man for breaking into a Valley Park business at 200 Benton Ave. Sunday. Barry M. Phillips, 26, of the 1200 block of Stone Bluff Court in Fenton area of unincorporated Jefferson County, was charged Sunday with second-degree burglary and second-degree property damage. St. Louis County Police said Phillips smashed an entry door window and entered Manley Brothers LLC, an engineering firm, at about 5:20 a.m. Sunday. Bail was set at $15,000. For more crime information on Fenton-High Ridge Patch, see the following articles:
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Police said the man stole two laptop computers and $200 cash from the college in Fenton.
- POLICE & FIRE
- Joe Scott
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Wednesday, September 5, 2012
A Brentwood man faces criminal charges of breaking into a Brown Mackie College building in Fenton and stealing computers. Myron Whiters, 51, of the 1500 block of Banneker Avenue in Richmond Heights, was charged Aug. 29 with second-degree burglary and felony stealing. St. Louis County Police said Whiters smashed a window to enter the building at 2 Soccer Park Road in Fenton and stole two laptop computers valued at $3,500 and $200 cash. Police responded to a an alarm sounding at the college and found the broken window. Officers matched DNA from a blood sample found at the scene and matched it to Whiters, according to court documents. Bond was set at $25,000. For more crime information on Fenton-High Ridge Patch, see the following articles:
Friday, May 11, 2012
The resident confronted the man in his driveway after the burglar ran outside, police said.
A Fenton man caught another man burglarizing his home at 1:20 a.m. Sunday, St. Louis County Police said. Alexander Watson, 22, of the 5100 block of Romaine Spring in Fenton, was charged Wednesday with first-degree burglary and misdemeanor stealing. Police said in a report that Watson was in the home in the 5700 block of Keller Bend Drive, and ran out a basement door when the homeowner arrived. However, the victim confronted him in the driveway and forced him to turn over the stolen property. Watson had two bottles of whiskey and an X-Box controller, according to the report.
Rockwood 25
10:16 am on Sunday, May 12, 2013
Agreed. Just because a thief or vandal else clearly does wrong, does not mean the victim is necessarily "right" or blameless. It also doesn't mean they have equal blame or most of it. Such black and white thinking on this board. Sometimes victims couldn't have done anything better. Sometimes we can all learn something from the situation...like locking things up and keeping valuables out of sight. more ›