Des Peres Police said a home invasion and robbery, that happened on Thursday morning, is now linked to a car theft ring with ties to East St. Louis.
Four suspects broke into a home in Bellarosa Estates and held a member of the homeowner’s family at gun-point.
Two cars were taken and one of those was found in East St. Louis just about an hour after it was stolen.
Des Peres Police Detective Trent Koppel has worked in West County for more than 20 years.
She said it's hard seeing this kind of crime happening in her own backyard, "We look at every crime as if it happened to our family."
Police said the thieves tried to start a fire in one of the cars to destroy it.
Authorities said they are working several stolen car cases in the metro area and they could all likely be linked.
