ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office filed charges against a Florissant man Monday who confessed to being involved in a number of thefts across the St. Louis area.
According to a Facebook post from the Florissant Police Department, Samuel Mudd, 24, stole catalytic converters, trailers, lawnmowers, landscaping power tools and a motor vehicle, with thefts totaling $25,000 or more, a Class C felony. The felony charge is punishable by three to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000 or both.
Mudd emerged as the suspect to Florissant detectives in several cases before they found and arrested him Jan. 30 in Overland. Police said he admitted to the thefts during an interview.
Mudd confessed to detectives of his involvement in a number of thefts throughout Florissant, Hazelwood, Ladue and St. Louis County.
The investigation also led to the recovery of nearly $200,000 worth of stolen property. An arrest warrant was requested when Mudd failed to appear on several pending charges, including burglary, stealing, tampering and possession of methamphetamine, stealing a motor vehicle and property damage.
Catalytic converter thefts in particular have skyrocketed nationwide over several years. The National Insurance Crime Bureau estimates these thefts increased by 326% in 2020 and increased another 353% in 2021.
Vehicle thefts have also been on the rise, especially with juveniles as the culprits.
For example, Creve Coeur police investigated a rash of car thefts in a low-crime area in early January. Car thieves also targeted the Armory and City Foundry in mid-January in midtown St. Louis, one of the suspects caught on dash camera video.
Mudd is being held at the St. Louis County Jail on a $50,000 cash-only bond.
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