Alcohol-Soaked Underwear Left at Crime Scene

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

Nothing Good Can Come From Leaving Your Alcohol-Soaked Underwear at a Crime Scene A man was arrested by Lambert-St. Louis International Airport security agents after he broke into a closed Pasta House restaurant, leaving his cell phone and alcohol-soaked underwear behind. Airport Police said the man was caught on security cameras as he tore a security gate off its hinges Dec. 30 to get into the closed retaurant. An airport official said since it was late at night the area was deserted. Airport Police said they discovered the man's  alcohol-soaked underwear, T-shirt and cell phone behind the restaurant’s bar. Airport Police Chief Paul Mason said the man drank alcohol and spilled quite a bit of it while inside the restaurant. “This is all …

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Criminal Minds

Craigslist Scammers Steal Motorcycle, Pass Fake $100 Bills

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

Craigslist Thief Drives Off With Man's Motorcycle A resident on Edgemont Drive in Arnold reported to police that a person claiming to be interested in buying his motorcycle stole it. The man had advertised his 2004 Honda CBR 1000 on Craigslist. He told Arnold police that on Oct. 29, a potential buyer visited his house, took the motorcycle on a test drive and never came back. Police entered the motorcycle as stolen. It was valued at $8,000.  Another Craigslist Deal Goes Bad A Craigslist transaction between two men on a QuikTrip parking lot in Fenton  ended badly Oct. 27 when police arrested the buyer who paid the seller with four fake $100 bills. Police said the men agreed to meet and complete a transaction at QuikTrip where a seller was to…

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Criminal Minds

Weird Crime: Burglary Victim Locked Up; His Stuff Wasn't

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

Tools, Motorcycle Stolen While Owner is in Jail An air compressor, generator and Honda motorcycle were among the items stolen from the home of an Imperial man who was locked up in jail when it happened. The thefts reportedly occurred between Sept. 8-10 on Meadow Drive in Imperial. A burglar broke into an unlocked storage building and also nabbed some tools. A burglar kicked in a garage door and broke into a home Sept. 12 in Imperial and ransacked the homeowner's sock drawer, finding $150 in cash. Man Tries to Sell Live Hand Grenade Kirkwood Police Department received an odd surprise when a man turned up with a military issue hand grenade last week. Police said the man, from High Ridge, didn't realize the WWII grenade posed a danger Burglar…

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Criminal Minds

Weird Crime: After Leaving Swingers' Party, Man Returns to Argue

A roundup of recent unusual and odd crimes in the St. Louis area.

Phone Security More Successful Than Store Security Someone broke a window to successfully get into a Wireless Vision/T-Mobile store Aug. 29 on Lindbergh Boulevard in Mehlville, but they couldn't defeat the security device used to secure a Samsung Galaxy SII phone that was the object of the attempted theft. Pulling Up Plants and Spreading Syrup Someone damaged a home on Chesterfield Manor Drive in Chesterfield by uprooting several plants and pouring maple syrup on the front porch and a vehicle parked in the driveway. Would-Be Swinger Grabs Kids' Swing Set A man who was walking to his house Sept. 2 on Creek Drive, Fenton, noticed a man walking across the street carrying the speakers from inside his house. As it turns out, the man also had …

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Criminal Minds

Weird Crime: Thief Steals Van That Needs Tires, Gas

A roundup of recent unusual and odd crimes in 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 QuikTrip gas station where he bought gas for the van, according to court documents. Man Leaves Behind Hatful of DNA at Burglary Scene A hat left at a burglary scene in 2011 led St. …

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Criminal Minds

Weird Crime: Selling Fake Heroin to Undercover Police

A roundup of odd, unusual and off-the wall crimes compiled from police reports around the St. Louis area.

Fake Heroin Sold to Real Cop A St. Charles man sold two pieces of gravel to an undercover detective, telling him the rocks were raw heroin. The man had reportedly doctored the gravel to resemble heroin. The man's customer was an undercover police detective. The suspect said he was selling the fake heroin so he could buy the real thing for himself. Man Eats Pancakes and Runs A man ate a plate of pancakes Aug. 15 at the International House of Pancakes, 110 Kate Lane, Fenton, then left the restaurant without paying his bill. His license plate number was recorded as he drove off and officers located him at his house. He was arrested. Hello There Officer! St. Louis County Police officers met a 20-year-old South County man at 11:15 a.m. Aug. 16—…

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Criminal Minds

Weird Crime: Incidents That Aren't Family-Friendly

A roundup of odd, unusual and off-the wall crimes compiled from police reports around the St. Louis area.

All in the Family An unidentified 15-year-old used a gun to hold up a gas station in Chesterfield Aug. 26. He was turned in to police by his father, police said. A son asked his mother for some money Aug. 23 in the parking lot of Neighbors Credit Union in Fenton after she had cashed her paycheck. He became upset when she refused to give him any money so he stole the money from her hand and ran off. A 34-year-old St. Peters man was charged with pushing, hitting and kicking his mother Aug. 24, sending her to the hospital for her injuries. His grandmother witnessed the attack. He was charged with third degree domestic assault Unloaded Gun Was Effective Weapon A Webster Groves man held four men at bay who were walking up and down his street …

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Criminal Minds

Weird Crime: Landlord Threatens Tenants with Shotgun

A roundup of weird, unusual and off-the wall crimes compiled from police reports around the St. Louis area.

When Landlords Go Bad Police arrested an Oakville landlord for assault in the first degree. Police said the man threatened his tenants with a loaded shotgun. One-Car Accident During Theft An Arnold woman reportedly took her parents' 2008 Pontiac G6 July 30 without their permission. In addition to the theft, the woman damaged the overhead garage door frame as she was taking the vehicle. She is wanted on suspicion of vehicle theft and leaving the scene of an accident. Light Crime in Richmond Heights Five juveniles were arrested on suspicion of property destruction July 31 after police said they saw them taking bulbs off of a string of lights on the patio of Maggiano's Little Italy, in Richmond Heights. They were released to their parents. …

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The Dangers of Traveling in Your Buddy's Pants

A roundup of odd and unusual crimes in 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 Careful if You Wear Your Friend's Pants A St. Louis County Police Department South …

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Criminal Minds

3 Arnold Crimes are Best of Criminal Minds 2011

A A look back at some of the the most confounding and oddest items on the police beat in 2011.

Altoids Are Probably a Better Idea A woman was arrested Sept. 1 for stealing under $500 at the Shop N Save store in the first block of Gravois Bluffs Plaza, Fenton. Police said the suspect hid two bottles of vanilla extract in her purse and paid for the rest of her groceries, but failed to pay for the vanilla. Police said that when the woman was asked why she stole the vanilla she responded "I’m an alcoholic and drink the vanilla extract so my husband won’t find out I’m drinking again." Priorities A man was issued a summons Sept. 16 for urinating in the parking lot of the Steak 'n Shake in the 600 block of Gravois Bluffs Boulevard in Fenton. Police said the intoxicated man was asked why he was doing so and responded “My friends are still …

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