Morning smash-and-grab spree targets South County shops

Aug 20, 2025 - 20:00
Morning smash-and-grab spree targets South County shops

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Several South County businesses are cleaning up broken glass after a string of smash-and-grab burglaries and even an attempted ATM robbery early Wednesday morning.

St. Louis County police say the first call came just after 4 a.m., when officers from the Affton Southwest Precinct responded to Watson Road.

Two businesses, Titanium Vapor and Discount Liquor & Smoke, were hit.

The owner of the liquor store says a suspect broke a hole through the glass, entered the business, and then took off in a red getaway car.

No cash was taken.

“Thankfully, we don't work that early in the morning so no one was here and we are thankful nobody got hurt,” the store shared in a statement.

Titanium Vapor, through a shattered, locked business door, declined to comment regarding the incident.

Around the same time, the South County Precinct responded to another report of burglaries along Lemay Ferry Road.

Lt. Shawn McGuire with the Affton Southwest Precinct says investigators are asking for the public’s help.


“There's not many people traveling the road between 4 and 6 a.m. We’re looking for help from the general public if there are cars out and about or if you’re a business owner that has good surveillance video,” McGuire said.

Police believe these incidents may also be connected to damage at CNB St. Louis Bank’s Affton branch, where an attempted ATM robbery was reported around 4 a.m.

Tim Rodden, CEO of CNB St. Louis Bank, told FOX 2 in a statement:


“We take the safety and security of our employees, customers, and community very seriously. We are grateful for the swift response from local law enforcement and are cooperating fully with their investigation.”

The bank says no money was stolen, no customer data was compromised; and no one was injured, though the ATM is temporarily out of service.

So far, police have not released suspect descriptions.

All incidents remain under investigation.