ST. LOUIS — St. Louis police are investigating multiple armed robberies that occurred this weekend in and around the city's Central West End neighborhood.
According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the hold-up happened just before 9 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of Olive Street and North Grand Boulevard, about a block away from The Fabulous Fox. Two men were walking westbound on Olive when they noticed two suspects following them. They crossed the street, and the suspects continued behind them, pulled out handguns and announced a robbery. Two more suspects joined in, and they took backpacks from the victims.
About 30 minutes later, police said another robbery occurred in the 4400 block of Maryland Avenue, near the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in the Central West End. A man said he was standing on the street when four or five suspects wearing all-black and face masks approached him. One of the suspects put a gun against his side and stole his phone before they all fled the scene.
About 40 minutes after that just a few blocks away, another armed robbery happened in the 400 block of North Boyle Avenue in the Central West End. A man told police he was taking out his trash when four or five suspects in all-black and face masks approached him and asked for the time. As the victim was pulling his phone, a suspect placed a gun in his side. The others ran up to him, took his belongings and patted him down before running away.
Investigation into each of the incidents was ongoing as of Monday afternoon.
Police said they were looking at several recent reported robberies to see if any may be related, and investigators said they believe the incidents on Maryland and North Boyle avenues may be related due to the similarities in the number of suspects, the time and proximity.
James Whyte is the Executive Director of the Central West End Neighborhood Security Initiative.
Whyte said, "We do see armed robberies go up starting around the Thanksgiving holiday towards the end of the year."
The safety and security program works closely with Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department, supplemental security companies, and residents and businesses to curb crime.
Whyte said they have 275 cameras in different areas ranging from DaBaliviere Place to Forest Park Southeast, but a majority of the cameras are in the Central West End.
Besides residents, social media platforms like Nextdoor has helped them with reporting and solving crimes.
Within the last seven to eight weeks, Whyte said they've been tracking a trend of car break-ins going up.
With the recent armed robberies, they are keeping an eye on the problem.
"Multiple suspects on foot approached residents in the Central West End demanding property. They aren’t getting much return on these criminal events, it's certainly creating a volatile and dangerous situation. Catching residents walking or taking their trash out... what are they really hoping to gain? I am assuming they are young offenders and that makes it more volatile because they are armed and young. It’s got the potential for a real disaster," Whyte said.
Whyte said they'll continue trying to use technology to put a dent on these crimes.
"We don’t want businesses to be preyed upon and we don’t residents to be preyed upon, we are working with technology to see when these events happen. We are doing our best with the information we get. It’s important people let us know what’s going on," he added.
To contact CrimeStoppers, call 1-866-371-8477 (TIPS).
Resources for crime victims
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
The Crime Victim Center of St. Louis has multiple programs to support victims of crime. Crime Victim Center’s programs range from direct services to crime victims as well as “creating awareness and change within the systems they encounter.”
Life Outside of Violence "helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence."
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has the Neighborhood Healing Network, which serves people who have experienced crime, violence or been the victim of an incident that caused trauma.
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