Car Thieves Rammed Barrier at Pundmann Ford, Police Say

Car thieves tried ramming a barrier at with a Ford F-450 pickup, but got hung up on the concrete-filled obstacle Sunday, St. Charles Police reported.

When police officers arrived, five to seven men ran across Interstate 70 towards in St. Charles. Officers caught two suspects near or inside Walmart.

Charged with accessory to second-degree burglary were Dante R. Keller, 18, of the 4300 block of Blair Avenue in St. Louis and Anthony L. Smith, 18, of the 9700 block of Edgefield Drive in Bellefontaine Neighbors.

said in a report that the men broke a window and entered the Pundmann Ford used car office at 2727 West Clay about 1:46 a.m. Sunday.

They took keys to several cars and drove them to the east parking lot entrance, where police said Keller had taken a stolen Ford F-450 Chassis Cab and was ramming the theft barrier. The truck was disabled and hung up on the barrier.

Police arrived and the men fled across Interstate 70.

Keller was arrested near Walmart, and told police he had nothing to do with the incident. Officers said they found keys from Pundmann Ford on him and he told officers he found them on a bridge.

Smith was arrested while attempting to hide in an employee-only storage area inside Walmart, according to the report. He also had keys from Pundmann Ford, police said.

Police said the men arrived at the car lot in a car left in the parking lot. They believed the car had been stolen.

Lt. Dave Senter of St. Charles Police said police are searching for others involved in the burglary.

Bond for Keller and Smith was set at $50,000 each, cash only.