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SLMPD
Matthew Pekarek, one of the suspects in the City Museum break-in.
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SLMPD
Tyler Billingsley, one of the suspects in the City Museum break-in.
UPDATE, 5/20: The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has at least one two suspects in custody on suspicion of breaking into City Museum earlier this week, museum director Rick Erwin tells SLM. Police recovered property stolen from City Museum during the early-morning burglary from a suspect’s car, Erwin says, but the stolen items haven’t yet been returned.
The suspects are Tyler Billingsley, age 20 of Dittmer, Missouri, and Matthew Pekarek, age 20 of Dittmer, Missouri. Both men were charged with second-degree burglary and theft/stealing. SLMPD says the investigation is ongoing.
City Museum is pressing charges against the burglars, who also left spray-painted messages in the women’s bathroom. Supporters of the popular St. Louis attraction flooded the museum and police with phone calls and social media messages sending tips about the culprits.
Our original story continues below.
via Instagram/@citymuseum
City Museum posted surveillance footage of the burglars and the damage they left behind, captioned with the question: "Do you know these a**holes?"
City Museum is asking St. Louis for help in catching the vandals who broke in, stole accessories from the gift shop, and left graffiti messages in the bathroom.
Police are investigating the break-in. Staff at City Museum took to social media Tuesday to share surveillance photos in hopes that someone would recognize the culprits.
“They stole necklaces, a tote bag, earrings and graffitied a women’s restroom,” City Museum staff posted on Instagram. “I’m intrigued by their decision making process.”
See also: How to Spend the Night at City Museum
The surveillance footage shows four men wearing hoodies with their faces covered. They left two spray-painted messages: “Free the Herb,” a popular graffiti slogan seen around town, and “God <3 U.”
Museum director Rick Erwin tells the St. Louis Post-Dipatch the men broke in through a cabin window, setting off the alarm around 1:15 a.m. The men were gone by the time a neighbor came to investigate around 1;54 a.m., and they’d taken $300 worth of women’s accessories with them.
“It’s like they missed Mother’s Day,” Erwin joked to the Post.
Here are the photos of the culprits and the damage they left behind:
Contact Lindsay Toler by an email at LToler@stlmag.com or on Twitter @StLouisLindsay. For more from St. Louis Magazine, subscribe or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
