ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Police are investigating a string of early morning break-ins at businesses across University City and Overland Friday. One business owner told FOX 2 that surveillance video shows the criminals are teenagers.
Officers with the Overland Police Department spread across two separate burglaries. One incident was at a gas station on Page Boulevard around 3:30 a.m., and the other occurred at another gas station just a mile away on Lackland Avenue. Owners of the establishment on Lackland quickly put up boards after the thieves broke their windows.
Over in University City, damage was left behind at two separate businesses. At the same time as the break-in on Page Boulevard, police responded to another at Imo’s Pizza on Olive Boulevard and Sheridan Drive.
Across the street, officers were also investigating a break-in at Worldwide International Foods and African Market. Police stated that the suspect may have been in a white Kia Optima.
Victims of these types of crimes say they’re frustrated and want to see solutions, especially if the criminals are teenagers.
FOX 2 reached out to the St. Louis Juvenile Courts, who gave the following statement:
“Just as with the St. Louis County Prosecutor’s office, the attorneys of the St. Louis County Juvenile office are bound to only apply the laws set forth in Missouri statutes. No charges can be applied if there is not a violation of law under any revised Missouri statute.
“Also, state statute disallows comment on juvenile proceedings, even as far as confirming or denying whether a juvenile is charged and/or being detained in our facility.”
Police and prosecutors frequently say that laws prevent transparency in juvenile prosecutions. Missouri State Rep. Doug Clemens tells FOX 2 that the state needs to do a better job at providing resources when crimes involve juveniles.
“The courts, I feel, are doing what they’re supposed to be doing. The problem is they’re moving slowly because of resources. Frankly, we have children whose brains haven’t developed all the way who should go back to their parents because of parental rights. But often, they go back to a home that caused the issue in the first place,” Rep. Clemens said.
