ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – The apparent ringleader of a car-theft gang has been charged following dozens of break-ins across the region.
The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney announced Nicholas Tate, 21 of Spanish Lake, was indicted for three counts of burglary and stealing over $750. Investigations into numerous other car break-ins and auto thefts are still underway.
Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar said the charges came after the exhaustive efforts of the St. Peters Police Department, the St. Charles County Auto Theft Task Force, and St. Louis County Police Department.
Investigators say intelligence they gathered lead them to believe Tate is a prime ringleader of Big Buckz, an organized gang out of North St. Louis. They say the gang’s members have tormented St. Charles and St. Louis County neighborhoods with suspected car break-ins and auto thefts since early 2020.
At the time of his arrest for the burglary and theft, officials say Tate was on parole for stealing a motor vehicle, tampering with a motor vehicle, unlawful use of a weapon, and revisiting arrest. His parole has now been revoked and his is serving the rest of his sentence in prison.
No word on if Tate or his gang is related to nearly 100 vehicle break-ins in St. Charles and St. Louis Counties earlier this month. About 40 cars were hit on Feb. 6 at the Amazon facility in St. Peters.
The prosecuting attorney’s office says Darryl Muldrow, 18 of St. Charles, was charged in that incident. Muldrow and two others are accused of using window punches to break into cars and making off with property and firearms. Officials say the car clotting spilled into St. Louis County with more break-ins at Hollywood Casino.