Man Leaves Hatful of DNA at Burglary Scene
St. Louis County Police say Patrick Melton, of Florissant, was identified as a suspect in a 2011 burglary by a DNA match from a hat left at the home in the 10500 block of New Halls Ferry Road.
Photos
A hat left at a burglary scene in 2011 led St. Louis County Police to a suspect in a home break-in.
Patrick Melton, 47, of the 2900 block of Santiago in Florissant, was charged Sunday with second-degree burglary and felony stealing.
St. Louis County Police said Melton was identified as a suspect in a March 24, 2011 burglary by a DNA match from a hat left at the home in the 10500 block of New Halls Ferry Road. The home is in unincorporated St. Louis County near the Old Halls Ferry Road intersection.
Police said the victim arrived at home to find two broken windows; discovered a television, game system and lawn care items missing from the home; and a hat that did not belong to anyone living in the home.
Bond for Melton was set at $30,000.
For more crime information on Florissant Patch, see the following articles:
In This article
-
Wedgwood/Barrington St. Louis County Police Post
3801 Vaile Ave, Florissant, MO -
Florissant City Hall
955 Rue St Francois, Florissant, MO -
-
-
Ken
10:40 am on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
He'll probably get probation like everyone else.
E. Holloway
1:29 pm on Tuesday, September 4, 2012
It would be nice if, once he's found guilty in a court of law, they would put him away for no less than 8 years and no time off for good behavior. But you're right K, he'll probably get probation.
Ken
6:30 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
I'm sure there's consideration on the judge's part of prison overcrowding, etc, but it seems without a visible deterrent to committing crime, it will continue. Letting these thugs back out into the community sends a message to them and everyone else that this area will tolerate them and their criminal behavior. The more I read about the non-existent consequences, the more and more inclined I am to parter with the police and form a neighborhood watch. If the judges won't provide the deterrent, maybe knowing the residents of the community are watching and will call the police immediately may make these people take their crime elsewhere. Somehow the message needs to get out that the citizens have had enough.
E. Holloway
11:40 am on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Indeed, the message needs to get out. Maybe if we start uttering the word "vigilantes".