Weird Crime: When Landlords Go Bad

A roundup of odd, unusual and head-scratching crimes in the St. Louis area.

When Landlords Go Bad A St. Charles landlord is accused of assaulting his tenants to get them removed from his property and then keeping the rent and deposit money. St. Charles Police said the landlord “established a pattern of scamming his tenants for the rent and deposit money, using the same scenario each time.” St. Charles Police said the landlord intentionally instigated a fight in December by chasing his tenant down the hallway by pushing and chest-butting him. The landlord then called police to get the resident removed from his property. Police said the landlord intended to keep the $400 in rent and $200 in deposit money, adding that he did the same thing to tenants on July 30 and Sept. 15. Police wrote in a report: “McKee threatens…

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Weird Crime: Ski Masks Don't Help If You've Already Been Recognized

A roundup of odd, unusual and head-scratching crimes in the St. Louis area.

At These Prices You Could Just Buy New Dishes A man faces criminal charges for taking large fees from an elderly woman with Alzheimer' Disease for menial household chores, according to police in Maryland Heights. The 88-year-old woman gave the man $325 to $400 for doing the dishes, according to a police report. The man admitted to police he received an excessive amount for the job he was doing, but said the woman gave the extra amount as a tip. He told police he was aware of the woman’s disability and limitation, according to the police report. The man was was charged in January with financial exploitation of an elderly or disabled person, a class B felony. The woman’s family initially noticed her car was missing. While investigating the …

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Weird News: Burglar Foils Unsecure Security Camera

A roundup of odd, unusual and head-scratching crimes in the St. Louis area.

Burglar Foils Unsecure Security Camera A burglar turned around a security camera and apparently deleted any potentially incriminating images Jan. 7 at a Fenton home after breaking into the residence by using a landscaping stone to break the front entry door sidelight. A coin collection was stolen. The homeowner told a sheriff's deputy she had left home at approximately 5:20 p.m. Upon her return said she observed the left front door side light was shattered and most of the glass removed, according to the deputy's report. Due to three previous burglaries in the recent past, The homeowner had placed a "trail cam" on a bookshelf after the previous burglaries, Police discovered the camera had been turned around facing the back of the shelving …

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Criminal Minds

Weird Crime: Chicken Rustler, Serial Meat Thief

A round-up of odd and unusual crimes in the St. Louis area.

Chicken Thief Grabs 75 Birds A man hired to watch over chickens at a farm on Old Highway 141 in Fenton, stole 75 of the birds instead, according to police. The theft occurred on Oct. 30 and followed a dispute between the property owner and the man who was to watch over the chickens, police said. Meat is His Undoing A University City man faces criminal charges after police said he tried to steal porterhouse steaks from a  grocery store. The man put two packages of porterhouse steaks down his pants. He recently had been released from jail after serving a one-year sentence for stealing meat. Family Fingered Following Funeral Almost $7,000 was reported stolen after a Barnhart woman invited family members over to her house after her husband's …

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Weird Crime: Scammers Aplenty Involving Fake iPads, Fake Money

A round-up of odd and unusual crimes in and around the St. Louis area.

Computer Tablet Scam Ends With Man Grabbing $800 From Woman A woman withdrew $800 from an ATM machine after being approached by two men on a QuikTrip parking lot in Hazelwood and said they were selling iPads and other electronic equipment. She led the men to a nearby supermarket where she withdrew $800 from an ATM machine. She then walked back to their car where they told her to take a box from the back of the car that supposedly contained the iPads. Instead, the boxes contained two picture frames that were made to look like iPads and another box that contained a wooden cutting board. Yet another box was filled with bubble wrap and a USB cord. During the transaction, one of the man grabbed the woman's $800 and fled. Another QuikTrip …

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Criminal Minds

Man Helps Himself to Supermarket Chicken After Stuffing Vodka in his Pants

A roundup of odd, unusual and off-the-wall crimes in and around St. Louis.

Chicken-Eating Vodka Thief The store security staff at Dierbergs Market, in Arnold, watched a man stuff four bottles of Absolut vodka down his pants Sept. 30 and then walk through the store eating chicken from the deli, according to police. When the man tried to leave the store, the security staff tried to stop him and the man kicked them. He was booked and held. A Man Walks Into a Bar A St. Peters man walked into a sports bar on Jungermann Road Oct. 15 and slugged a complete stranger who was watching television. The victim said he did not know his assailant, had never spoken to him and had never met him before. Six Cars Stolen From Dealership; One Left Behind Auto thieves snatched approximately six cars from the Johnny Londoff Chevrolet …

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Weird Crime: Thief Steals Van That Needs Tires, Gas

This is a roundup of recent odd, unusual and head-scratching crime reports from in and around the St. Louis area.

Here's a look at recent reports of weird crime in and around the St. Louis area. Stolen Van Needed Gas, Tires A Ferguson man is facing criminal charges for stealing a van that not only needed gas, but apparently tires as well. He also was charged with stealing eight tires from Dobbs Tire and Auto. Florissant Police said the man stole a 1994 GMC conversion van from a Johnny Londoff Chevrolet lot sometime between July 29 and Aug. 1. The van belonged to an employee at the car dealership. Police said man also broke into Dobbs Tire and Auto, and stole eight tires valued at $1,593. He was identified through surveillance tapes at Dobbs and at a Quik Trip gas station where he bought gas for the van, according to court documents. Man Leaves Behind …

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'Ninja' Steals iPad, Air-Conditioner Heists, Underwear Theft and More

This is a roundup of recent odd, unusual and head-scratching crime reports from in and around the St. Louis area.

Here's a look at recent reports of weird crime in and around the St. Louis area. What Well-Dressed Bad Guys Wear A woman in Arnold reported that a man dressed like a ninja entered her home, went into the bedroom, stole a computer, iPhone, iPad and $1,000 in cash. He then fled. St. Peters police officers were asked to keep an eye on car washes on patrol routes after a string of burglaries at the businesses when a man showed up at a car wash July 18 wearing a ski mask and carrying a crowbar. Wearing a ski mask in the middle of a heat wave didn't add up. A police officer on a stakeout across the street from the car wash thought so, too. He called in other police officers and all converged on the man as he was prying open the door to the car …

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Sword Attack, Train Robbery, a Naked Stroll and More

This is a roundup of recent odd, unusual and head-scratching crime reports from in and around the St. Louis area.

Here's a look at recent reports of weird crime in and around the St. Louis area. Pure Evil Takes a Ride In Fenton, But it Was a Short One A woman reported to the sheriff's department that her 2009 custom motorcycle, called Pure Evil, was taken July 3-4 from her driveway on Frontier Trail, Fenton. She told a deputy from the Jefferson County Sheriff's department that she later saw the motorcycle at the corner of Frontier Trail and Old Gravois Road and that the gas tank, right brake handle, seat and wiring had been damaged. She estimated the damage at $1,200. Deputies canvassed the area to locate possible witnesses, but none were found. Adult Movie Critic Steals Sex Toy After Clerk Denies Refund A Vinita Park man was charged recently with …

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Drugs in Pal's Pants, Pillowcase Thief, Trash Can Scam and More

This is a roundup of recent odd, unusual and head-scratching crime reports from in and around the St. Louis area.

Here's a look at recent reports of weird crime in and around the St. Louis area. Counter Attack at Police Station An intoxicated woman was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct May 30 after police said she became combative and climbed onto the front lobby counter at the Richmond Heights Police Department. It began earlier in the day when police responded to a report that someone was blowing a car horn repeatedly in the 1600 block of Bellevue Avenue, according to police. Upon investigation, they found the 25-year-old woman sitting in her car and talking to her boyfriend by phone. The car was turned off. Police brought her to the station to await her boyfriend. After her arrest, her boyfriend arrived and she was released to him. Be …

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