ST. LOUIS – Four men and a teenager have been arrested in connection with a string of business burglaries over the last several months, including one that was caught on camera.

Investigators believe the suspects could be connected to more than 20 break-ins across the city.

“It’s happening everywhere. These young individuals, they use a stolen car, break a window, and easy access,” Lt. Col. Renee Kriesmann, commander of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Bureau of Operations, said. After taking what they can get, the thieves “leave that business, then they move on to another one. They do it in strings.”

Police believe the suspects are also connected to break-ins in St. Louis County. Police began the investigation last year when they saw an increase in smash-and-grabs across the area.

“This collaboration and the efforts of various investigators were able to get other evidence, which includes surveillance footage that suggested the same individuals were responsible for a large number of these burglaries,” Major Joe Morici, commander of SLMPD’s Specialized Enforcement, said.

According to a statement from Sgt. Charles Wall, a police spokesman, Zephfon Bolden, 20, was originally arrested in March after fleeing from officers. At the time, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office charged Bolden with resisting arrest by fleeing, resisting arrest, and first-degree trespassing.

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As investigators discovered information linking Bolden to the business burglaries, city prosecutors charged Bolden on April 30 with second-degree attempted burglary, two counts of second-degree burglary, three counts of first-degree property damage, and two counts of stealing.

Kendall Robinson, 19, was arrested on May 13. The following day, the circuit attorney’s office charged him with seven counts of second-degree burglary, 12 counts of first-degree property damage, three counts of stealing – $750 or more, one count of stealing, two counts of second-degree attempted burglary, one count of stealing a motor vehicle, stealing a firearm, first-degree burglary, attempted stealing, and second-degree property damage. Robinson was also charged on the same day in a separate case for first-degree robbery and armed criminal action.

Me’Kel Walker, 18, was arrested on June 25 and charged the following day with seven counts of first-degree burglary, four counts of stealing – $750 or more, one count of stealing, five counts of first-degree property damage, and one count of first-degree attempted burglary.

Lavez Walker, 18, was arrested on July 15. The circuit attorney’s office charged Walker with five counts of first-degree burglary, three counts of first-degree property damage, two counts of stealing – $750 or more, one count of stealing, two counts of second-degree property damage, and one count of first-degree attempted burglary.

Bolden, Robinson, and both Walkers, remain in custody as of Wednesday.

A 17-year-old juvenile suspected of multiple burglaries was also taken into custody. He’s currently being held on unrelated charges as investigators apply for charges in St. Louis Juvenile Court connected to the business burglaries.

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