Officer May Have Prevented Multiple Burglaries With Stop At Temple Israel

A Creve Coeur Police officer is being credited with action that likely spared Temple Israel from being victimized by two burglars.

According to Police Chief Glenn Eidman, officer Mark Kernen was on patrol near the institution at Ladue Road and Spoede Road at 1:30 a.m. July 4 when he spotted 2 people who had flashlights, hammers, ducttape, gloves, masks, and a list of area temples in their car. That raised a lot of suspicion.

According to police, the people said "they were just visiting different Temples in the area." The suspects were arrested for Possession of Burglary Tools. The case is still under evaluation by the St. Louis County Prosecutor, according to police.

The Anti-Defamation League sent out a security bulletin after the incident, but Karen Aroesty, Regional Director for the ADL, told Patch they did not believe the incident was ideologically driven.

Police officer Mark Kernen saw the suspect vehicle drive into a rear parking lot at Temple Israel and, called for reinforcements, was honored Thursday with a certificate of recogniton for his work on the case.