Sheriff's dept. issues 4-state wide alert for suspect in thefts at antique malls

The Clinton County (MO) Sheriff's Dept. is attempting to identify a suspect who allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of jewelry at a Lathrop, MO, antique mall. The suspect is believed to also have hit other Missouri antique malls in Cass County and Grain Valley, and possibly Callaway County.

According to the department's release, on Friday, April 15, the suspect entered the Enchanted Frog Antique mall and removed one lock from the display case and jimmied the lock on a second case. The suspect made off with $4,500-worth of antique gold and silver jewelry. The suspect was driving a red Chevy Cavalier and was last seen heading east-bound on 116 Hwy. from the scene. License number is unknown.

The suspect appears to be a middle-aged, white man with a slightly receding hairline, dark hair with some gray, wearing glasses. He was wearing a long-sleeve dark blue shirt and a red short-sleeved overshirt, and jeans.

The Sheriff's dept. has issued a four-state wide alert for the suspect. Anyone with information, should contact Sgt. Speiser with the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department at 816-539-2156.

Gold & silver thefts at Missouri antique mall

Jewelry, estimated in the thousands, has been reported stolen from the Enchanted Frog Antiques mall, 7950 E. 116 Hwy, in Lathrop, MO.

Joyce Steinbuch, co-owner, estimates that about $4,500-worth of jewelry--mostly rings in sterling or 14k gold, some with good stones--was taken from a dealer's showcase on Friday, April 15.

"He must have had tools on him to get through our three-lock showcase system during open hours," Steinbuch said. "The tape shows that he's monkeying around the locks but you can't see exactly what he's using. You can see his hands full of the merchandise at one point though!"

The Enchanted Frog has a closed-circuit TV security system. Steinbuch filed a report with the Clinton County Sheriff's Office. An officer, she said, reviewed several hours of surveillance tapes at her store.

Surveillance tape shows the alleged thief appears to be a middle-aged white man, with brown hair and beard, both with some gray. He was wearing glasses and a long-sleeve blue T-shirt with a short-sleeve red shirt over it. Surveillance tape also shows, Steinbuch said, that the man was driving a red car.

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