Holiday shoppers got a little more than they bargained for in South County this afternoon: flyers from the Ku Klux Klan.

Arnold Patch Editor Sheri Gassaway received a reader tip that the Klan was placing flyers on cars at the South County Target around 1:30 p.m. There were only about 20 cars with flyers when Patch arrived. No Klan members were present.

The flyers boldly displayed the KKK logo and drawings of figures in white hoods. The literature didn't contain threatening or overtly hateful speech.

St. Louis County Police told Patch Target has every right to refuse the KKK into their parking lot. The lot is considered private property with public access.

In October, KKK members had planned to place literature on vehicles in Arnold. See previous stories:

• KKK Lawsuit Persuades Arnold to Allow Flyers
• KKK President Says Group Was Asked to Visit Arnold

In an interview Tuesday afternoon, Maj. Nick McBroom, of the Arnold Police Department, said his office had not received any complaints about the flyers being placed on any cars in Arnold.

Imperial Wizard/President Frank Ancona, of the Traditionalist American Knights Ku Klux Klan, said he didn't know exactly who handed out the flyers in South County today, but he says he isn't surprised.

"The reports I'm getting from the local people in that area (South St. Louis County) say that there's been an increase in black-on-white crime and robbery and child abductions," Ancona said. "People are really concerned. They'd like someone to come in and take a more aggressive stance."

Ancona said the Klan is dedicated to protecting residents from criminals, regardless of their race or ethnicity. 

"Law-abiding citizens don't have anything to fear from the Klan," Ancona said, adding that if he saw a car being broken into, he would report the issue to police whether or not the car was owned by a white person.