The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested a 37-year-old Imperial man in Columbia, four days after he allegedly stole a pickup from a car dealership in Eureka. The theft occurred Oct. 2, authorities reported.
At about 6 a.m., the suspect allegedly cut a lock on a gate at Gateway Car Connection, 1721 West Fifth St., to gain access to the dealership. Surveillance footage allegedly shows the man, who was wearing a baseball hat and had a noticeable limp, going through a 2006 Chevrolet 2500 and a Chevrolet Silverado and then leaving the parking lot in the Chevrolet 2500 at about 6:40 a.m., the report said.
Dealership personnel told police keys to the pickup were left on the floorboard, the report said.
On Oct. 6, the Missouri State Highway Patrol recovered the pickup in Columbia and arrested the Imperial man, Capt. David Wilson said.
The pickup was returned to the dealership, and Eureka Police will seek charges against the suspect through the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for stealing a motor vehicle, Wilson said.