Two convenient stores along Old Hwy. 21, one in the Meramec Heights area and the other in Otto, recently were burglarized, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reports.
At about 2:40 a.m. Feb. 26, the Sheriff Office got a report that glass was shattered in the front door at the Quick Stop in the 1800 block of Old Hwy. 21 in Meramec Heights, the report said.
When deputies arrived, they found that someone had thrown a rock through the door to break in and then stole 27 cartons of cigarettes. In all, the stolen cigarettes and damage to the door were estimated at $1,340. Nothing else in the store appeared disturbed, according to the report.
Deputies brought a dog to the scene to try to track a suspect but were unsuccessful, the report said.
At 4 a.m. Feb. 28, the Sheriff’s Office responded to an alarm at the Phillips 66 station in the 5700 block of Old Hwy. 21 in Otto, the report said.
Surveillance footage from the store showed two men use a sledgehammer to break the glass in the front door. Once inside, they smashed a “For Amusement” machine and stole money from it. The culprits also stole two cartons of Marlboro cigarettes. In all, the stolen money, cigarettes and damage were estimated at $900, according to the report.
Lt. Gary Higginbotham of the Sheriff’s Office said the burglaries were similar so it’s possible they are related.
As of Tuesday afternoon (March 1), the stolen items had not been recovered, and there were no suspects or arrests, he said.
He asks anyone with information about either of the incidents to call the Sheriff’s Office tip line at 636-797-5515.