Millstadt police warn residents to look out for suspicious characters

Millstadt police are warning residents to be vigilant after a number of complaints about suspicious people and activity in the area.

According to police, several residents have contacted the department since Friday.

“We just want to people to be aware and on the look out,” Millstadt Police Department Lt. Alan Hucke said. “If they see anything suspicious, they need to call 9-1-1.”

Included in the complaints:

On Wednesday at about 8 p.m. a resident who lives near the corner of Liederkranz Lane and Steinberg Circle reported that a white male was seen standing on a second floor deck peering inside the home. The tresspasser made eye contact with the occupant before fleeing on foot.

Police sent a tracking dog to the area but were unable to locate the suspect.

▪ Several residents of the Alpine Trails subdivision reported that people were traveling throughout the area inquiring with residents about if they needed any home repairs. Upon investigation, police discovered that the people were from Missouri and that they had previously been asked to leave the Columbia area because they were illegally soliciting without a permit.

Police said the solicitors also caused concern when one person in the group asked a girl who was home alone several suspicious questions about her dog.

“There was no evidence to the contrary” that the people were legitimately trying to find odd jobs, Huckey said. “But we don’t know if they’re scoping things out with plans to come back later or if they’re trying to scam elderly people out of money.”

▪ On Monday at 7:30 p.m., a resident of Parkview Manor complained to police that he heard the sound of someone jiggling the handle of his back door apparently in attempt to get into the house.

He looked out a window and saw a “younger, white male” in a hooded sweatshirt standing in his driveway next to his car. When the person noticed the resident saw him, he fled on foot toward the baseball fields on Kalbfleisch. Police responded but were unable to locate the suspect.

▪ Another resident of the Parkview Manor area reported at about 1:30 a.m. Monday she heard the sound of people talking on a two-way radio as she walked her dog in her yard. She saw a male sitting under the pavilion on Kalbfleisch but he quickly left the scene.

Hucke said it is important people call 9-1-1 and speak to a dispatcher if they see something suspicious. If they call the department’s nonemergecy line they might not get an immediate response, he said.

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 10:56 AM with the headline "Millstadt police warn residents to look out for suspicious characters."