Arrest Made in Vehicle Burglaries Outside St. Anthony

A Hannibal, Missouri man has been arrested in connection with the series of vehicle break-ins and burglaries outside St. Anthony High School on November 30.

While a capacity crowd was watching the finals of the St. Anthony Thanksgiving Tournament inside the Enlow Center, nine vehicles were damaged and/or burgled outside in the parking lot.

(DAVID CARTER)

Effingham City Police Friday announced 55-year-old David L. Carter of Hannibal is in custody on an original warrant from Effingham County for nine counts of burglary. Each of the Class 2 felony counts is punishable by up to seven years in prison and/or fines not to exceed $25,000. Carter Friday afternoon was in jail in Hannibal and is expected to be extradited to Effingham County next week where he will be jailed and face an initial court hearing. Carter's bail has already been set at $75,000. Effingham City Police Detectives are continuing the investigation.

Police reported at the time of the incidents that various items including purses, cell phones and cash were taken from vehicles.

Effingham City Police Chief Jason McFarland applauded the hard work and collaboration that went into making the arrest just days after the incident. As to how that happened, McFarland said, "A citizen witnessed suspicious activity and instantly reported it, then kept surveillance on the subject as long as possible, ultimately obtaining critical information for Officers. Immediately, Patrol Officers did a comprehensive job canvassing the surrounding area and gathering vital intelligence, which they later passed on to Detectives. As Detectives furthered this case, they coordinated with Law Enforcement Agencies in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri as well as the United States Marshals Service. This cooperative teamwork, which all started with an observant citizen doing the right thing, has led to the arrest of a suspect who has been targeting victims in multiple states for a very long time. Perpetrators of vehicle burglaries are often not apprehended; in this case, not only was a suspect arrested, but he was taken into custody in a short time period. Excellent work by all involved!”