ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department (SLMPD) said it arrested four people, including a minor, over the weekend after catching them stealing from the market.

According to probable cause statements, the police caught the suspects with at least 9 2-liter bottles and 48 alcoholic drinks.

According to St. Louis mayor Cara Spencer, SLMPD is taking incidents of looting very seriously.

“They will continue to do so and I’m grateful for that because we don’t want people to be further traumatized, further victimized as we move through what’s going to be some vulnerable spaces,” Spencer said. 

Jerry Moore with Clean Cutts Lawncare was working across the street from the market on Monday. Moore is offering free lawn services to his clients who were hit by the tornado. 

He worries that people are taking advantage of storm victims.  

“They come here just to start stuff and tear our neighborhoods up. This is a good place to stop and get cold drinks or chips or something just to keep you going. Everybody needs this store,” Moore said. 

Spencer says looting incidents have been minimal so far. But there have been a few.  Last week, FOX 2 reported that six people were arrested for various wire thefts involving power lines. 

 “As you see continued arrests related to copper theft and people that are trying to prey on our community when it is most vulnerable, you’ll see that we have deployed our resources in an adequate and effective way,” said Mitch McCoy, SLMPD director of Public Affairs. 

Police reported that many suspects in these incidents are not from St. Louis.