Break-ins, thefts at Monroe County car dealerships likely related, investigators say
Columbia Police and investigators with the Metro-East Auto Theft Task Force are looking for at least three men in connection with early morning break-ins at a Columbia car dealership Monday.
Columbia Police Chief Jerald D. Paul said his officers were dispatched to the Columbia Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram dealership, 500 Admiral Weinel Blvd., after a security alarm there was activated at 11:42 p.m.
“Upon arrival, officers discovered the service bay glass door broken and the door breached,” Paul said.
Two cars were stolen, Paul said, including a black 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee and a gray 2018 Dodge Charger SRT that belonged to service department customers.
“Surveillance footage identified the suspects arriving in a white Ford Fusion with dark wheels and tinted windows. All three vehicles left the dealership at approximately the same time,” Paul said.
Paul said officers stayed in the area of the dealership and approximately two hours later they observed a stolen black Dodge Charger with Louisiana registration on Admiral Weinel Boulevard driving near the. dealership.
“Officers tried stopping he black Dodge and the vehicle went northbound at a high rate of speed onto Interstate 255,” said Paul. “DuPont officers assisted attempted to stop the vehicle,” but could not.
Police later learned the car had been stolen earlier in the evening from Florissant, Missouri. Paul said the Metro-East Auto Theft Task Force is investigating the case along with the Columbia Police Department.
Police Capt. Matt Jany said before the thieves hit the Columbia dealership they broke into a Waterloo dealership on Sunset Boulevard, but no vehicles were taken.
Jany said police believe the two break ins are related.
This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 1:25 PM.
