Festus Police are investigating the thefts of two Dodge Challenger cars early this morning, Jan. 6, from Lucas-Smith Chrysler Center, 1600 Parkway West, Chief Tim Lewis said.
He said a Festus resident called the Police Department at about 2 a.m. and reported seeing a suspicious vehicle and several people in the auto dealership parking lot.
“(The caller) advised he had seen a white passenger car and people at Lucas-Smith,” Lewis said.
He said officers arrived at the dealership and found windows broken on a building.
“We knew the building had been broken into,” Lewis said. “Employees arrived and said a white Challenger and a black Challenger had been stolen.”
Lewis said both are later model vehicles, and he estimated that together the cars were worth “in excess of $80,000.”
He did not have an estimate for the damage to the building.
Lewis said he believes the culprits stole keys to the Challengers from the building that was broken into and then stole the cars.
As of this afternoon, officers were canvassing the area, Lewis said.
Anyone with information is urged to call Festus Police at 636-937-3646.