License Plate Readers Spot Stolen Old Monroe Public Works Truck in St. Peter’s
OLD MONROE, Mo. — Old Monroe’s white public works truck made it back to its shed on September 7. Someone parked the Ford F-250 inside and locked the door. But a license plate reader had already spotted the stolen truck in St. Peters.
The trip began when someone forced open the Public Works shed with a pry tool and took the truck. A gold Ford Escape was seen traveling with it on Highway 79 south of Old Monroe. About 10 minutes later, a license plate reader captured the two vehicles together in St. Peters.
Le’Marion Larell Steward, Florissant, Mo
Charges
Second-degree burglary
First-degree tampering with a motor vehicle
The truck and Escape were seen together again near O’Fallon. An officer spotted them parked along Highway 79, but the F-250 drove away before the officer could reach it. O’Fallon police stopped the Escape about 12 minutes later. Steward was in the front passenger seat.
The F-250 eventually headed back toward Old Monroe. A camera captured a white Ford Focus following it, then recorded the truck being returned to the Public Works shed. The person who brought it back closed and locked the door.
The license plate reader sightings helped establish where the truck had traveled, even though it was returned the same day. The police statement does not say who first discovered the theft or when it was reported. Lincoln CountyWatch has reached out to the Old Monroe Police Department for clarification and more detail about the readers’ role.
Steward was arrested September 23 and faces two felony charges in Lincoln County.
About Lincoln CountyWatch
Lincoln CountyWatch is part of the County Watch Network (CWN), an independent local news organization providing fact-based coverage of Lincoln County and the surrounding region. Our reporting includes breaking news, public safety, local government, courts, business, community events, weather, and investigative journalism.
Our newsroom is not affiliated with any law enforcement agency, fire department, EMS agency, government entity, court system, political organization, or elected official. Editorial decisions are made independently and are based on available facts, public records, court records, official documents, interviews, photographs, video evidence, on-the-record statements, and other verified sources available at the time of publication. Articles may be updated or corrected as additional verified information becomes available.
Individuals mentioned in our reporting are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The filing or non-filing of criminal charges, an arrest, or the existence of an investigation should not be interpreted as evidence of guilt.
For corrections, clarifications, news tips, event submissions, or story ideas, contact tips@lincolncountywatch.com.
Sources
Old Monroe Police Department probable cause statement, report 2026-00394
Lincoln County Circuit Court warrant and case docket, 26L6-CR00612
Comments