Criminal Minds: Shrimp and Concrete Pig Reported Stolen

Here's a roundup of odd, unusual and head-scratching crime reports made recently near Clayton and Richmond Heights.

Hot Property

A furnace was stolen after a residential break-in May 16 on South Broadway in Mehlville. No one apparently saw the behemoth of a burglar who nabbed it.

Cold, Hard ... Shrimp?

The owner of in University City reported a burglary at the business May 19 in which thieves broke into the restaurant and stole $300 and a case of frozen shrimp.

Didn't Know Anyone Still Did This

On May 18, someone placed a bag of dog waste on a front porch of a home on Luray Drive in Chesterfield and lit it on fire before driving off. No word on whether they rang the doorbell first.

In a Related Story ...

Rock Community Fire Protection District reported an arson May 13 in which someone entered the grounds of the in Arnold during the night and set a portable outhouse on fire, melting it to the ground.

High Schoolish Hi-Jinx?

Someone damaged a lawn decoration by starting a fire May 7 at Elm and Swon avenues in Webster Groves.

A car parked on Rosedale Place in Webster Groves was damaged May 13 when someone threw sauce and cans of soup on it.

A 60-pound concrete pig ornament was stolen May 30 from a home on Penmar Drive.

Someone placed three soda-bottle bombs in a mailbox May 16 at a home on  Chesterfield Estates Drive, causing damage to the mailbox.

Caught on Camera

A surveillance camera captured a customer of a small Kirkwood business finding a lost wallet on May 18. The customer had a chance to do the right thing but instead was arrested on suspicion of trying to use one of the credit cards from the wallet. 

Scam of the Week

Shrewsbury police received a delayed theft report from an elderly Lansdowne Avenue homeowner. He reported that on May 17, he was contacted at his home by a man who claimed that he was employed by a utility company and that utility lines needed to be buried in the homeowner's backyard. The man asked the homeowner to accompany him to the rear yard, behind a shed, where the utility lines were to be buried.

The homeowner said he was in the backyard with the man for about 20 minutes when the man said he needed to retrieve something from his vehicle and would be back in a few minutes. The man asked the victim to wait for him in the backyard. After waiting a short time, the homeowner walked to the front of his house to look for the man, but he was gone. The homeowner discovered jewelry, checks and other items missing from the house. The homeowner said he did not initially contact the police because he was embarrassed. 

A similar incident occurred in a neighboring community. In that incident, the perpetrator identified himself as being “with the electric company.” A second perpetrator apparently went inside the victim’s residence while the victim was distracted by the first. Jewelry and other items were taken.

For questions about this report, email dan.barger@patch.com