LSL woman charged in ‘garage’ thefts

The O’Fallon Police Department recently investigated three separate burglaries which occurred while the garage doors were open and the residents were performing yard work in their backyards. Each of the burglaries occurred during the daytime, police said.

One burglary was reported on Sept. 22, in the 700 block of Hawk Run Drive. Police said the suspect entered an open garage and allegedly stole a purse with its contents from the victim’s vehicle.

Another burglary was reported on Sept. 24, in the 700 block of Falcon Hill, in which $100 and a personal bank check were allegedly stolen from inside the residence. The victim arrived home and saw a female inside the residence. When the victim confronted the suspect, she advised she was looking for her child. The suspect then left the area.

A third burglary was reported on Oct. 13, in the 1000 block of Annabrook Park Drive. The suspect entered the residence and allegedly stole prescription medication. The homeowner attempted to enter his residence but found the door leading into his residence from the garage was locked. As he attempted to open the front door he felt the knob turn from the inside. The door opened and he was confronted by the suspect who had pill bottles in her possession. The victim detained the suspect while he contacted the police and remained with her until officers arrived.

The St Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on Jaqueline Anderson, a 45-year-old Lake Saint Louis female, with the charges of: three counts of first degree burglary, three counts of theft/stealing (value of property or services less than $500), and one count of theft/stealing of any credit card or letter of credit, with a $30,000 bond.

O’Fallon Police Chief Roy Joachimstaler said, “Although it is convenient to leave garage doors open, these types of crimes of opportunity can be avoided by just closing and locking the overhead doors.”