St. Charles Times

Vehicle-related thefts in St. Charles County have significantly decreased since 2020, thanks to the efforts of the Criminal Interdiction Task Force. According to Police Chief Kurt Frisz, the task force's proactive approach has led to a substantial drop in theft-related incidents. He states, "You’re going to be held accountable when you’re caught stealing in St. Charles County. We don’t do a catch-and-release program here. If you get arrested, you’re going to sit in jail."

The formation of the task force in 2021 has proven to be a successful strategy in combating crime. The task force, composed of 30-40 officers, conducts regular patrols to target stolen vehicles and suspicious activities. As a result of their efforts, reports of stolen vehicles decreased to 382 in 2023, reverting to pre-2020 levels. Additionally, instances of items stolen from vehicles dropped to 399 in 2023, which is half of what they were during the peak of vehicle-related crimes.

From 2021 to 2023, the task force made over 1,100 arrests, and St. Charles County prosecutors filed 579 criminal charges related to vehicle break-ins or possession of stolen vehicles. Chief Frisz highlighted the importance of accountability in the county's approach to tackling crime.

Moreover, statistics show that a significant portion of criminal suspects in St. Charles County originate from outside the county. In 2023, data from the County Jail indicated that 66% of inmates were from external areas, with St. Louis city and county accounting for 48% of the total.

When considering overall crime rates, St. Charles County stands out with one of the lowest per-capita crime rates in the St. Louis region. Missouri State Highway Patrol data from 2023 revealed that the crime rate in St. Charles County was 14 crimes per 1,000 residents, contrasting with St. Louis County's 30 crimes per 1,000 residents and St. Louis City's rate of 89 crimes per 1,000 residents. Lincoln County reported a crime rate of approximately 16 crimes per 1,000 residents.