The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a recent burglary at the Express Mart, 7017 Hwy. 61-67, in Barnhart, where someone broke into the business and stole money from a coin game machine.
It’s the latest in a string of similar thefts from coin machines at county convenience stores over the past few weeks, and the cases could be related, said Lt. Gary Higginbotham of the Sheriff’s Office.
The most recent burglary occurred at 3:26 a.m. March 7, when someone used a sledge hammer to break glass out of the front door to get inside the business, and then the culprit used the hammer to break the glass on the coin game and steal coins, the Sheriff’s Office reports.
After the theft, the suspect left the store headed north on Hwy. 61-67, the report said.
The stolen money and damage to the door and machine were estimated at $5,000, according to the report.
The suspect was wearing a black ski mask, a black jacket, blue jeans, white tennis shoes and gloves, the report said.
As of March 11, there were no suspects or arrests, Higginbotham said.
Similar thefts have occurred in Arnold, De Soto and other parts of unincorporated Jefferson County, including Otto and the Meramec Heights area, authorities report.