Four teenagers, three from Hillsboro and the other from Festus, recently were arrested for allegedly trying to break into a trailer filled with fireworks in Arnold. At 10:57 p.m. June 21, Arnold Police officers were patrolling the Arnold Crossroads Center, where Atomic Fireworks is located, and spotted a suspicious vehicle with the four teens inside, according to Arnold Police.
During the investigation, the officers noticed that it looked like someone had tried to force open a door and lock on a trailer at the site, so an owner was called to the scene. The owner confirmed that the door and lock had been damaged, estimating the damage at $500, the report said.
The Hillsboro teens, all 17, and the Festus teen, 18, were arrested, issued summonses to appear in Arnold Municipal Court for trespassing and property damage and released at the scene, according to the report.
Detective Lt. James Jones said it’s common for young people to try to steal fireworks at this time of year, so police try to patrol areas where fireworks are stored and sold.