CLAYTON– A local red wine caper involving lots of taken bottles, an apology note and a priest strolling into a red wine shop has caused charges today against a St. Louis County man.Patrick R. Gaffney, 41, of Bel-Ridge, faces two felony taking charges connected to red wine thefts at Straub’s and Schnucks grocery stores in St. Louis County.Gaffney was also suspected by cops in a brazen Oct. 18. red wine theft at The Wine Merchant in Clayton, but the shop decreased to push charges after an odd series of occasions that made local news this fall.A guy appearing to be a priest entered the store Oct. 24 with a box and said he wanted to make a return. He said he would not address any concerns and quickly left the store. Inside package was missing out on red wine– bottles of Sloan Asterisk Red and Bernard Magrez– in perfect condition, store basic supervisor Tim Jordan told the Post-Dispatch in November. Individuals are also checking out … An envelope duct-taped to the top of package consisted of a two-page
, handwritten apology letter.
It begins,” I am very sorry for my actions and there is no excuse for my behavior.”The letter suggested the offender had actually stolen white wine from a number of other shops and offered the bottles to prepared customers.So far
, Gaffney deals with charges in two other cases.He was charged Friday with attempting to take two bags of wine worth about$1,620 from the Straub’s market at 13414 Clayton Roadway on Aug. 6. Cops allege he attempted to bring two bags of bottles out of a loading dock at the shop but put them down and walked away as soon as he was faced by a shop employee.Gaffney was also charged Dec. 21 in another theft attempt on Aug. 6. Charges declare he stole 12 bottles worth about $1,160 from the Schnucks at 10275 Clayton Road in Ladue. Gaffney was interviewed by authorities in the theft and denied taking the red wine, however said:”You’re on the ideal path,”charging files say. St. Louis regularly arrive on lists of many unsafe cities, however readers require to carefully look at how such lists are prepared. Get rid of your afternoon depression with the oft-shared and unique news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors
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