A young St. Louis man was apprehended Thursday by the U.S. Marshals in connection with incidents late last year and early this year in Columbia and elsewhere.

Columbia police said 20-year-old Likellon Smith was arrested on local warrants as well as other similar warrants throughout the St. Louis area. He was transferred to the St. Louis County Jail in Clayton, Mo., where he was officially charged with vehicle theft, two counts of stolen vehicle possession, six counts of burglary and two counts of identity theft – all felonies.

These charges stem from incidents that occurred in different areas of Columbia last September and December in addition to this past January. A 2020 Ford truck was stolen in one of the incidents. 

“Columbia officers, detectives, the Columbia Auto Theft Task Force and U.S. Marshals worked diligently on these cases, and Monroe County State’s Attorney Ryan Webb issued the arrest warrants against Smith,” Columbia Police Chief Jason Donjon said. “The Marshals have been looking for Smith for several weeks and he was finally located and taken into custody.”

Donjon added that many of the items stolen in these incidents were wallets, purses and other valuables left inside unlocked vehicles that were subsequently recovered – including the stolen truck.

“I would like to commend everyone who assisted with this investigation to include neighbors and witnesses, Columbia Police Department dispatchers, officers, detectives, Auto Theft Task Force, Illinois State Police, Glen Carbon Police, St. Louis County Police, and the Monroe County State’s Attorney,” Donjon said. “Please be vigilant and lock your vehicles to prevent these crimes from occurring in the future.”