Robbers Pawn Stolen TV in Front of Detective, Police Say

Two Maplewood residents were caught pawning stolen property in front of a Maplewood detective, Maplewood Police Department reports.

On Jan. 10 a Maplewood detective was conducting an investigation at a local pawn shop when he observed Lawrence Axton and Mitchell Kraus pawn a large television.   

Less than an hour later, a burglary was reported in the 2600 block of Bellevue Avenue, which happened to be the neighbor of Kraus and Axton. 

The television which Axton, 22, and Kraus, 23, pawned in front of the detective was confirmed to have just been stolen in a burglary which Axton and Kraus are suspected to have committed.

Maplewood Police said Kraus and Axton broke into a neighbor’s apartment between 3:30 p.m. Jan. 9 and 3:30 p.m. Jan 10 and stole a 55-inch, flat-screen television valued at about $1,600.

Axton and Kraus were arrested shortly thereafter for second degree burglary and felony stealing. Both suspects admitted to committing the burglary.  

A $25,000  bond was set for both Kraus and Axton. The charges were issued through the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

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