ST. LOUIS — Robert Lee Brown, 53, has been charged in connection with a series of alleged burglaries and attempted burglaries involving eight homes where residents were sleeping, according to police and a redacted probable cause statement.
Police said officers in the 3rd District arrested Brown and that the Circuit Attorney’s Office reviewed cases involving the 2nd, 3rd and 5th districts before approving charges.
The charges described in the police update include burglary, attempted burglary, stealing, motor vehicle theft, attempted motor vehicle theft and second degree property damage.
The probable cause statement, dated October 7, describes incidents on September 30 and October 2, 3 and 4. Investigators allege Brown entered or tried to enter homes through windows, a back door and a screened porch.
On September 30, police allege Brown used garden shears to pry open a rear window at a home in the 2600 block of South 12th Street. The statement says he took a laptop, purse, wallet and knife while the resident slept inside. Investigators valued the stolen items at more than $750.
On October 2, Brown allegedly pried open a window at a home in the 800 block of Allen Avenue and took a tablet, wallet, vehicle keys and cellphone while the resident was sleeping. The statement alleges he then stole the resident’s vehicle.
The October 3 allegations involve four homes on Waterman Boulevard, Kingsbury Avenue and Washington Avenue.
At a home in the 6100 block of Waterman Boulevard, police allege Brown broke a rear window with a rock while attempting to enter. At another home in the 6100 block of Kingsbury Avenue, investigators say he tried to enter through a back door.
The statement alleges Brown then went to a neighboring Kingsbury home, cut through a porch screen and entered the enclosed porch while a resident slept inside.
At a home in the 6200 block of Washington Avenue, police allege Brown pried open a front porch window and took a wallet, money, keys and jewelry. Investigators say he then entered the resident’s car and tried to start it.
On October 4, Brown allegedly tried to enter a window at a home in the 3500 block of Flora Court using garden shears. According to the statement, he left when a dog began barking.
That same day, police allege he entered another home through a rear window in the 3900 block of Flora Place and took a phone that was beside a resident’s sleeping daughter.
Investigators say garden shears used during the South 12th Street incident were left behind at the Flora Place home. The statement also says surveillance cameras recorded Brown at five of the residences.
The officer who prepared the statement wrote that Brown, after being advised of his rights, admitted to the burglaries and identified himself in the surveillance videos. Those assertions remain allegations in the case.
Police directed further inquiries about the charges to the Circuit Attorney’s Office.
Brown is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Photo credit: Booking photo of Robert Lee Brown courtesy of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
Sources: St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department email provided to VOTP News STL and the accompanying redacted probable cause statement dated October 7, 2026 (PDF).
