A criminal investigation is underway at a Brentwood store that supports students with special needs. Someone came in after-hours, making off with cash that provides scholarships for children attending the Miriam School in Webster Groves and Olivette. Police are investigating if the thief has a connection to the store.
The store is a shopper's delight off Hanley Road and Strassner Drive in Brentwood.
"We have tons of home decor, jewelry, costume jewelry, fine jewelry, all kinds of art,” said Tracy Frish, Manager at The Switching Post. "Our bread and butter is furniture, upscale furniture."
Everything there is donated and priced to sell. Saturday, workers had just finished their annual Holiday Extravaganza.
"It's kind of an unveiling of the whole shop turning into holiday land,” Frish explained.
That's when they got a call, someone got inside the place once it was all locked up for the night, making off with cash.
"I'm really kind of angry,” Frish said.
The store exists to provide scholarships for students to attend the Miriam School.
"These are kids who learn differently so kids who have autism, learning disabilities, school anxiety,” said Meg Bamford, Head of the Miriam School & Learning Center.
The private school provides specialized instruction for students from kindergarten through high school.
"It directly affects the kids who need it but also all of the people who work so hard for this to happen,” Bamford said.
Police have identified a person of interest and believe the crook knew where to go and when. Surveillance video helped them build their case.
"Staff and the volunteers, we all count our pennies and compete for sales to try and provide the financial aid for the kids at Merriam but more than that it was like such a betrayal of the community that we have here because we haven't had anything like this before,” Frish said.
Now the store is fundraising and asking for donations to recoup what the holiday grinch stole.
"These are kids that wouldn't be able to go to Miriam without this support,” Frish added.
From Friday through Sunday, The Switching Post will offer 10% off all merchandise in an effort to replace the stolen scholarship money. You can stop by or donate online.
You can find more information here.