By Erin Achenbach
Staff Reporter
eachenbach@callnewspapers.com
A South County sewing-machine company was robbed in the early hours of Saturday morning, and police are still looking for the suspects responsible.
The Heyde Sewing Machine Company, 5451 S. Lindbergh Blvd., was robbed overnight June 15.
Two suspects made off with two sewing machines, each worth $20,000.
Karen Warren, the owner of Heyde Sewing, said that she was contacted by police around 8:45 that morning, after police were notified by a driver passing by the store that one of the store’s windows had been broken.
The suspects initially tried to break in through one of the front windows, but since that window is tempered glass, they were unsuccessful. Instead, they broke through a side window facing Concord Village Avenue.
The suspects broke into the store around 4 a.m., according to the store’s security footage. Only two sewing machines, each about 100 pounds, were stolen, a $40,000 total loss.
“These are top-of-the-line machines,” said Warren. “The thieves must have known what they were going for because anybody that is not a sewer would not have known that’s a top-line machine and are that expensive.”
Warren said that the suspects would not be able to sell the machines for what they’re worth because the security footage showed them dropping the machines several times.
The suspects also did not take the accessories needed for the sewing machines, rendering the machines essentially useless.
“My opinion is that whoever stole it is someone that wanted to start an embroidery business and realized, ‘I can’t do this … I need to find a $20,000 machine,’” said Warren. “It was really stupid on their part. Why not steal money and buy a machine?”
Police have been looking through the store’s security footage from the past week to see if they note anyone suspicious, but that’s all Warran said she knows.
They believe the thieves must have scouted out the inside of the store beforehand, since they knew exactly where to go to find the machines in the dark while the store was robbed.
Detectives had not yet provided the security footage to The Call at the time this article was published. Click here to see the security footage.
Warren has already replaced the machines that were stolen, using new machines from her inventory that she intended to eventually sell. The machines that were stolen were floor models, used for demonstrations to customers.
Additionally, each sewing machine that was stolen has its own serial number and coding within the machine. Since the suspects dropped the machines multiple times during the robbery, they will most likely not work without being repaired.
But the network of dealers who repair the types of machines stolen is small and dealers will be able to know if a machine brought in for repairs is one of the stolen ones based on its serial number.
Heyde Sewing Machine Company has been a South County staple since 1950. Warren and her husband bought the store 25 years ago.
The St. Louis County Police Department’s Burglary Unit is investigating the incident. Anyone with information is urged to contact investigators at 314-615-5400.
To remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward, contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIP (8477).
