Police Said $5,000 for Info On Armed Chesterfield Home-Invasion

The reward is $5,000 for information in the armed home-invasion robbery of a jewelry store worker in Chesterfield, according to Chesterfield police. Police said they were following up on leads.

A different source, who did not want to be identified, said Tuesday morning the reward was up to $25,000.

Ahome-invasion robbery took place Thursday night in Chesterfield in the 13000 block of LaBarge Drive, off Woods Mill Road near Olive Boulevard. 

A masked gunman pistol-whipped a man—the jewelry store employee, took his wife hostage and made off with a bag of jewelry and other valuables, all while children slept in rooms nearby.

Chesterfield police detectives were working to identify the suspect based on the victims' descriptions:

• a white man
• 35-45 years old, 
• 5 feet 10 inches–6 feet tall, 
• weighing 160–180 pounds. 

Last seen wearing: 

• a black ski mask, 
• camouflage jacket
• baggy blue jean pants
• gloves.

Police were not revealing the name of the victims, who live in a condo on LaBarge Drive.

The gunman fled shortly before police arrived at the condo, Chesterfield police Sgt. Christopher Connelly said.

Police said the gunman surprised the homeowner with a gun to the back of his head, just outside the unlocked sliding glass back door of his home. The victim had returned from an errand about 9:50 p.m. Thursday, police said.

When the victim spoke up, the gunman allegedly pistol-whipped him on the head, causing a lump, police said. At gunpoint, the two went inside and upstairs to a bedroom where the victim's wife was then taken hostage.

Police said the gunman instructed her to take a pillowcase and stuff jewelry into it, while her husband was made to get down on the floor. The couple's children were asleep in rooms nearby.

The gunman took the wife downstairs to allegedly get more valuables, threatening her with harm if the husband made a move to get off the floor.

However, the husband called police on his cell phone from the upstairs bedroom and described the robbery in progress, police said.

Connelly said by the time he and eight police cars got to the residence, the gunman had fled. Police said there was no evidence yet how the gunman got away.

Late Friday, there was no indication whether neighbors had seen anything unusual, or whether the suspect had somehow followed the victim home from errands.

On the other hand, police said it's possible the gunman knew his victim through jewelry business dealings. It was not likely the suspect would return to the residence since police were on the lookout, Connelly said.

The $25,000 reward is being offered by a local business and the Pawnbrokers Association, for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect, police said.

Anyone recognizing the suspect should contact the Chesterfield Detective Bureau at 636-537-3000 or St. Louis Crime Stoppers at 314-725-8477 (TIPS).