Two 17-year-old men and a 16-year-old male, all of St. Louis, were arrested at about 4:30 a.m. July 21 for allegedly stealing from unlocked vehicles in Eureka, police reported.
Eureka Police were called to Meramec View Drive after three people were seen riding around in a gold 2016 Chevrolet Cruze in the neighborhood and apparently trying to open doors on parked vehicles. An officer was responding to the area and reportedly saw someone driving the car on Legends View Drive pull over to the curb, park and turn off the lights. The officer drove past the Cruze and allegedly saw people attempting to hide inside the car.
The officer pulled behind the car, which then sped away with its lights off towards the Legends Parkway, the report said.
The officer followed the car, which turned left onto Vista Glen Court and pulled off the road again. The people inside again appeared to be crouching down in the car to hide from the officer. When the officer pulled behind the car for a second time, the Cruze again drove away without its lights on and turned back onto Legends View Drive with the officer following it, according to the report.
The driver allegedly ran several stop signs on Legends View Drive and reached speeds between 40 to 70 mph as the officer followed the car. Another officer set up a spike strip at one of the exits to Legends Parkway, near Bald Hill Road, and the Cruze drove over the spikes, which damaged all four tires, the report said.
The person driving the Cruze continued to Hwy. 109, allegedly ran a red light and turned north on the highway. However, the driver eventually pulled over on the highway, and the three suspects surrendered to officers, according to the report.
Officers allegedly found numerous stolen items inside the Cruze, including a bow stolen from a Ford F-150 parked outside a home in the 700 block of Ashton Way Circle in Eureka. The Cruze reportedly could be seen on surveillance footage driving slowly on Ashton Way Circle with its headlights off and someone getting in and out of the car trying to open doors on various vehicles, the report said
Eureka Police allegedly recovered other items stolen from Jefferson County, O’Fallon and Wentzville, including money, credit cards, backpacks, an iPad, a laptop computer, cell phone, cell phone chargers, a flashlight, handcuffs, glasses, a skateboard, gift cards and checks, according to the report.
Police also reportedly confiscated a wallet that had $500 in it from the 16-year-old, who apparently had been driving the Cruze. The three suspects were taken to the Eureka Police Station, where they were booked and released pending application for warrants, the report said.
Before their release, the 17-year-old men reportedly admitted to the thefts, and one of the two men allegedly said they had used the Zillow real estate website to determine what neighborhoods would potentially yield the best items to steal based on the homes’ values.
The 16-year-old reportedly returned to the Police Station a few days after the arrest to reclaim the money that was confiscated. However, he allegedly tried to use a fake ID, and after yelling at an officer, left the Police Station without the money, according to the report.
Eureka Police will seek charges against the 17-year-olds through the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for stealing and receiving stolen property. However, the case against the 16-year-old, who could face charges for stealing, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and providing false identification, was turned over to juvenile authorities, Capt. David Wilson said.
Wilson also said police will seek charges for the alleged traffic violations against the 16-year-old through Eureka Municipal Court.