Four men, including one from Arnold and another from High Ridge, have been charged for reportedly stealing catalytic converters from 17 vehicles outside a Maryland Heights bakery. The Arnold man allegedly directed the three men to “target” the bakery’s parking lot and stored the stolen converters at his apartment, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office reported.

Allen Tikvesa, 20, of Arnold; James Beckring, 19, of High Ridge; Da’Monie Moore, 22, of St. Louis; and Dylan Brockett, 18, of St. John have been charged with stealing more than $25,000, a class C felony punishable by three to 10 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000. A grand jury indicted the men on June 29, according to court records.

The thefts occurred overnight between Sept. 21 and Sept. 22 outside Bimbo Bakeries, 201 Delord Ave. Twelve of the 17 vehicles that converters were stolen from belonged to the business, and the cost to repair those dozen vehicles was $39,612.33, the probable-cause statement in the case said.

Before the thefts were reported, Maryland Heights Police stopped Brockett, who was driving a 1999 Honda Odyssey, for a traffic violation. Beckring and Moore also were in the van. When officers searched the van, they allegedly found two catalytic converters, two battery-powered saws and numerous new and used saw blades, the report said.

Brockett, Beckring and Moore allegedly admitted to stealing the converters from the bakery facility, and they led investigators to an apartment in the 4400 block of Meramec Bottom Road in St. Louis County, saying that is where they took the stolen items. The apartment is rented to Tikvesa, and he also owns the Odyssey that was stopped by Maryland Heights Police, the report said.

At the apartment, police allegedly found 39 converters, saws, saw blades and battery chargers. Tikvesa reportedly told investigators he did not participate in the thefts but directed the other men to the bakery, according to the report.

He also allegedly said he was in the area when the converters were stolen and had circled the bakery “to ensure they were OK.” He said he was not acting as a lookout but talked to Brockett on the phone “to make sure they were good.” He also allegedly said he and the three other men stored the converters in his apartment, the report said.

“In partnership with several area law enforcement agencies, we created an Auto Theft Task Force to combat not only car thefts but also the growing trend of thieves stealing catalytic converters," St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell said. "We will continue to do everything we can to hold these offenders accountable for their actions, which will include prison time."

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