Local band among victims of storage unit theft in Valley Park
VALLEY PARK, Mo. – A stunning crime spree at a local storage facility throughout several units were broken into overnight Wednesday. Renters have lost expensive items and personal belongings.
Around 20 units were broken into, leaving some musicians and renters scrambling to recover what was stolen.
Don Lash, a renter at Storage Rentals of America, says his band 'Retro Lovers' lost a prized American-made electric guitar worth $1,500. The band, known for covering 60s and 70s hits at festivals like Oktoberfest, had been using the unit for rehearsals for two years.
Lash says the thieves muscled their way into the main building, pried open locker doors, and left their PA sound speaker in the hallway before getting away with the guitar.
Missouri bill calls for naming highways after Donald Trump
'I was very surprised we had that problem here,' he said.
Lash stated he has at least $20,000 of equipment in his unit. While the facility has video surveillance and a keypad entry system, he believes it happened quickly, possibly with a crowbar.
'I'm heartbroken. I feel violated. Like anyone would in this circumstance, and I feel for the other tenants here for their loss of personal property,' Lash added. 'This is kind of a rare incident, and I believe they are going to beef (security) up even more in order to prevent it in the future.'
We requested a comment from Storage Rentals of America—so far, we're still waiting for a response. St. Louis County Police say they expect new information from their investigators on Friday.
Despite the break-in, Don Lash and his band plan to continue renting their unit.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
43 minutes ago
- The Hill
Southern California father who is U.S. citizen, arrested during immigration raid, family says
(KTLA) – Family members are demanding answers after they say a man who is a U.S. citizen was wrongfully arrested by federal agents during an immigration raid in Montebello. On June 12, surveillance video captured the moment several masked and armed agents surrounded a tow truck business in Montebello. The agents quickly entered the property and began detaining mechanics and other workers at the site. One of the detained men who was later released spoke to KTLA but asked not to be identified out of safety concerns. He said he was violently grabbed and taken by the agents despite being a U.S. citizen. 'He slammed me to the gate,' the man told KTLA's Ellina Abovian. 'He put my hands behind my back. I'm an American citizen. You do not do that to Americans.' Nataly Degante, whose cousin, Javier Ramirez, 32, was arrested in the raid, said that while agents began handcuffing everyone, they reportedly never provided identification or information about why they were there. 'We see in the video that they don't come with a warrant,' she said. 'They don't have any documentation in their hands.' Degante said her cousin is a U.S. citizen and a single father of two young children. She described him as a hard worker with no criminal record. Video of the raid shows some workers being moved to the ground as agents quickly handcuffed them. Ramirez is also seen on the video yelling to the agents that he's a citizen. 'He's telling them he is a U.S. citizen and he's letting them know, 'My passport is in my pocket,'' Degante said. However, Ramirez was handcuffed and taken into custody. His brother tried following Ramirez's location through his cell phone's tracking app, but the signal was eventually lost. His family has not heard from him since. 'We haven't heard anything about him,' said Abimael Dominguez, his brother. 'He's diabetic. I don't even know if he has insulin yet or has he eaten? We don't know anything. ' It remains unclear whether the agents were with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Some of the agents appeared to be wearing uniforms with a Border Patrol insignia. 'I voted, but not for this,' said the man who was detained and later released. 'I'm an American citizen. I want the best for all of us. I feel like there is due process that we must follow.' 'They're not only taking criminals, they are taking our community,' Degante said. As of Friday afternoon, Homeland Security has not responded to KTLA's request for comment about why Ramirez was detained or whether he was wanted for any crimes.
Politico
an hour ago
- Politico
Klobuchar dined with Minnesota lawmaker just hours before she was killed
On Friday night, Sen. Amy Klobuchar was having dinner in her home state at an event with Melissa Hortman, the former speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives who served as a lawmaker for almost 20 years. Hours later, she was mourning the loss of a friend whom the Democratic senator had known for decades. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called Klobuchar at 5 a.m. Saturday to deliver the gut-wrenching news, Klobuchar told POLITICO in an interview. 'I wish everyone had known her like we knew her,' Klobuchar said. 'I was there when she was doorknocking in the beginning. … I was in county office and she was seeking the legislative office.' Hortman, 55, and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, home early Saturday, in what authorities are saying was a politically motivated killing. The same suspect is believed to have also shot and wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. Authorities are continuing to search for the suspect, 57-year-old Vance Boelter. In the early 2000s, Klobuchar recalled, Hortman was balancing not only serving as an elected official, but also leading a girl scout troop and teaching Sunday school at a local Catholic church. 'That ability to manage with two kids led her to do a really good job managing legislators,' Klobuchar said. When Hortman was first elected in 2004 to Minnesota's House of Representatives, Klobuchar was five years into her role as County Attorney of Hennepin County — both on the outskirts of Minneapolis. 'She was pretty no nonsense,' the senator said. 'But in a kind way, with a lot of humor.' Klobuchar mentioned one detail that particularly stood out to her: On her third day as speaker, Hortman turned off the mute button her predecessor used to prevent legislators from speaking — she didn't need it. 'She's like 'I don't need that. I can use the gavel,'' Klobuchar said. 'She was just such a skilled legislator at bringing people together.' Hortman's killing only adds on to the growing amount of political violence and harsh rhetoric encapsulating American politics. 'There have been more and more people in politics who just throw gas on the fire,' Klobuchar said of the increase in divisive politics. But these acts shouldn't dissuade people from seeking office, the senator said. 'We need more good people to run,' she said. 'I hope good people still run or our democracy won't stand.'
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
House that Leo built: Pope delivers message of hope at White Sox park
House that Leo built: Pope delivers message of hope at White Sox park Thousands went to the first American pope's old haunt on the South Side to hear a message from the man they once knew as Robert Francis Prevost. Show Caption Hide Caption 'One of our own': Chicago celebrates election of Pope Leo XIV Chicago residents and leaders with the Archdiocese of Chicago are celebrating the election of a native to the papacy. CHICAGO – The city's favorite son delivered a fastball straight from the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV, born in Chicago in 1955, spoke in a video message to tens of thousands of spectators at Rate Field, the Chicago White Sox ballpark that was a staple of his youth growing up. Leo's message was part of a celebration of the first American pope at the stadium of his beloved ball team. The South Side native's message was aimed particularly at young people. 'That restlessness you feel in your hearts, we shouldn't look for ways to put out the fire, to numb ourselves to the difficulties we feel, we should get in touch with our hearts and realize that God can work through it,' said Leo, speaking in a pre-recorded message to people gathered at the sunny ballpark. 'That light on the horizon is not easy to see and yet as we come together we discover that light is growing brighter and brighter.' The special message from Leo was part of a program at the home of the pope's beloved ball team that included words from people who knew him as Robert Francis Prevost, fourth graders who participated in a viral mock conclave and performances by a Chicago Catholic high school choir that was recently on America's Got Talent. 'I'd like to take this opportunity to invite each one of you to look into your hearts,' Leo said. 'God is present and in many ways He's calling you to look into your heart, to discover how important it is for each one of us to pay attention to God in our hearts, to that longing for love we may feel.' Chicago-area Cardinal Blase Cupich celebrated Mass and Chicago Bulls announcer Chuck Swirsky emceed the event. Among attendees were nuns from Chicago-area convents who had never been to the stadium and Saturday found themselves seated in the infield, Sox fans returning to their regular stomping grounds and Chicago Cubs fans who were convinced to cross enemy lines at last. Leo is a noted Sox fan. He was recently spotted wearing the team's ball cap and was seen in archival footage at Game 1 of the 2005 World Series. The ball club honored the moment with a mural at Section 140 where Leo was seen standing to rally the team in the team's pinstripes. Alderwoman Nicole Lee of the city's 11th Ward, which includes the stadium, attended in a retro Sox shirt. 'What a great way to bring people together in a time when we need people to come together,' said Lee, noting the No Kings protests happening just a few miles north of Sox park and around the country. 'It's not that normal that we're here like this and I love that that's what we're doing right now. We could all use a dose of energy and a word of encouragement about what it'll take for the world to get on a better path.' Da Pope-mania Many showed up at the event on Saturday wearing the 'Da Pope' paraphernalia that's popped up in stores and streetside stands around the city in the wake of Leo's election at the conclave on May 8. Silvia Campos and Miguel Angel Vazquez, South Side residents and regular Sox game goers, wore White Sox-styled pope shirts they picked up at a recent game. The jerseys include the number 14 on the back. 'It's a way to get closer to him,' said Vazquez. 'We wouldn't be able to get to Rome so for us this is the closest possible for now.' The White Sox could not be immediately reached about whether they will retire the number 14. Paul Konerko, who wore the number 14 and whom Leo rooted for at the 2005 World Series, already has his name up at the stadium. Among the other paraphernalia were jerseys outfitted with the keys of the Vatican and Leo's name set against Chicago's iconic skyline. Grace and Janice Carpenter wore a pair of visors they had outfitted to look like a bishop's mitre hat. Fernando Flores, a shirt vendor outside the stadium, said his outfit had sold 10,000 shirts in the weeks since Leo's election. 'I would compare it to a championship overnight,' said Flores, 45. 'It's a phenomenon where everyone wants a piece of it.' Shirts sell for $25. Pope Leo baseball cards from Topps were for sale outside the stadium for $20. Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIII cards were also for sale. Prayers for peace The event celebrating Leo convinced even die hard Cubs fans to head to the South Side park. 'I'm in enemy territory here, where do I go,' Raul Gomez asked staff outside the stadium. The 36-year-old North Side resident said it was his first time back at the stadium in 10 years. 'A whole stadium filled with Catholics, Pope Leo the first American pope, from Chicago, I needed to be a part of that,' he said. 'That lineage from Peter somehow goes through Chicago, how amazing is that.' Gomez was satisfied with how the first-place Cubs are doing but said Leo lends a hand to other Chicago teams. 'I'm hoping Leo does some kind of prayer for the Bears because they're deep in the hole,' he said. Friendly divisions between the North and the South sides were just part of what many hoped Leo will bridge. 'As a Latina, it's very meaningful to see somebody as pope who understands the reality of Latin America, of the poor,' said Teresa Montes-Lara, a Dominican nun originally from Mexico. 'I hope he challenges us in our faith and I want o hear something about migrants, about the radical obligation the church has.' Cupich raised the issue in his homily at the Mass. 'It is wrong to scapegoat people without documents, for indeed they are here due to a broken immigration system,' he said. 'They are here not by invasion but by invitation.' Others hoped for more personal intercession. Dr. Joy Henningsen said she flew in from Nashville for the event. The radiologist said she lived in the Chicago area until 2020. Her family was devoted to Pope John Paul II and attributes a miracle to the pope that led a doctor to discover a piece of glass near his heart when he was having heart trouble. 'I believe in the power of healing via the Holy Father so I'm here asking for healing and peace in the world,' said Henningsen. 'I would not miss this for the world.' Mound is waiting Among official speakers were those who knew Leo back in Chicago. Father John Merkelis, who belongs to the same Augustinian order as Leo and was his high school classmate, said he was emailing Leo in the days leading up to the conclave. 'He said he's sleeping well because an American is not going to be pope,' said Merkelis. Days later, the priests said he was at an Augustinian house shouting 'that's Prevost, that's Prevost' when Leo was announced. The Augustinian said Leo's a guy who can change a car's oil and is an excellent Wordle player. But he remembers him best as the man who waited past midnight to share his condolences when Merkeles got home after his dad died. 'He was there waiting on the stairs,' he said. 'He's a sensitive, sensitive man.' Dianne Bergant, a former teacher, said she remembered him as an excellent student but she also took the moment to celebrate the Chicago community that raised him. 'It says something about the education he got,' she said. Many at the stadium hoped the event was a pre-season for Leo in person. Brooks Boyer, a White Sox executive, said that the 'mounting is waiting' for Leo. 'Your holiness, you've always been one of us, you wear the Sox cap like it was made for you, on behalf of White Sox fans, we'd be happy to welcome you back for a first pitch,' Boyer said. 'We'll send a ball to the Vatican so your arm is prepared.'
