Crime & Safety
Vehicle Thefts Rise in Webster Groves
The crimes do not appear to be connected, police say.
The is investigating a recent increase in vehicle thefts that police say reflects a trend in surrounding municipalities.
“There seems to be an upswing,” said Captain Stephen Spear of the Webster Groves Police Department. “It’s not just specific to Webster Groves. Everybody is seeing an upswing.”
From May 20 to June 20, suspects stole nine vehicles and attempted to break into two vehicles, according to police records. In comparison, from April 20 to May 20, Webster Groves police reported only one vehicle theft.
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The thefts do not appear to be related, nor are they exclusive to one area, Spear said. He added that these types of thefts are often cyclical. Spear also noted that suspects do not seem to be targeting a particular make or model of vehicles.
In many instances vehicles were unlocked, and the keys were in the ignition at the time of the theft. Other incidents involved damage to vehicles, such as a suspect punching out an ignition.
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No arrests have been made in connection with the thefts, and police continue to investigate the crimes.
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