Man charged in Howard County after burglarizing mid-Missouri businesses
A Lake St. Louis man was charged Wednesday in Howard County after he was arrested by police about 30 miles northwest of Columbia.
Mikeal J. Smith, 33, was taken into custody by the Fayette Police Department around 1:26 a.m. after police officers noticed him outside Walker-Winter Insurance on Main Street in Fayette.
According to a probable cause statement obtained by ABC 17 News, the business had reported to police on Jan. 18 and 19 that someone entered the business using a key. The suspect took $80 from a petty cash container on the 18th.
After the insurance company’s locks were changed, the suspect then stole another $100 from a bank bag on the 19th.
Both times the suspect re-locked the door and there was no signs of a forced entrance.
Police received two more burglary reports on Jan. 19 and 20 after the Fayette Newspapers Office on Main Street was burglarized. The business told police $10 was taken from inside on the 19. Nothing else was missing.
A trail camera placed inside the office after the first burglary, captured two photographs of the suspect on the 20th.
The images revealed a man wearing a hoodie, gloves, and a bandana over his face. The newspaper reported $3 was missing. Copies of the photographs were given to the Fayette Police Department.
On the morning of Jan. 25, police questioned Smith about why he was at the business. Smith told police officers that he was hiding from a friend. When asked where he was from, Smith told the officer he was from Lake St. Louis and was staying with a friend in Fayette.
Police noticed Smith was wearing similar clothing as the suspect who was captured in the photos taken by the trail camera at the newspaper office.
A search of Smith found a knife, a car key and four other keys, and a flashlight. The investigation also revealed that the keys were bump keys, which are often used by burglars.
Smith is charged in Howard County with four felony counts of second-degree burglary, one felony count of second-degree attempted burglary, one felony count of possession of burglary tools, and four misdemeanor counts of stealing.
