Two Troy men have been charged in connection with the recent theft of Missouri Lottery tickets from the U-Gas convenience store, 3611 West Outer Road, in Arnold.
Zachary Ryan Thornton, 20, who previously worked at the store, has been charged with burglary in the first degree and stealing, both class B felonies.
Dillan Ray Kiesey, 19, has been charged with receiving stolen property, also a class B felony.
A class B felony is punishable by five to 15 years in prison.
At about 1:20 a.m. July 22, Thornton, wearing a disguise, reportedly entered the store through the front door and ran into the manager’s office, stole a safe filled with $14,700 in Missouri Lottery scratch-off tickets and fled in a vehicle driven by Kiesey, the probable-cause statement said.
Surveillance footage was used to identify Thornton, and on July 23, police arrested him and Kiesey at a home in Troy and then released them pending the application for warrants, Arnold Police Capt. Robert Ruckman said.
The men allegedly cashed in some of the lottery tickets, but police reportedly recovered more than $11,000 worth of tickets when the suspects were arrested, Ruckman said.
The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed charges against the two on Sept. 9.
Also, a $15,000 surety bond was set for each of the suspects.