Police: Suspect breaks into Circle K, steals only beef sticks

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. (First Alert 4) – A St. Charles gas station was burglarized early Sunday morning, with the suspect taking beef sticks, police report.

St. Charles County Police responded just before 2:20 a.m. to a call about a break-in at the Circle K on the 1500 block of Caulks Hill Road.

Court records show Kohl Bertels has been charged with second-degree burglary, second-degree property damage, and stealing items valued at less than $150.

Officers arriving on the scene discovered a shattered glass door. Inside the store, they found Bertels, who told police, “I know you are going to think I am crazy, but there is an AI intelligence speaker in my neck.”

Bertels, who told officers he lives in Illinois, said he walked from his home to the gas station. He admitted to kicking in the door, explaining, “That right there, I ain’t going to lie to you, I kicked it in.”

After being read his Miranda Rights, Bertels said the “voices in my head told me to kick it open since it was locked.” When asked why he entered the store, he said, “Nothing really, I just wanted to use the bathroom.”

Inside the store, police found that Bertels had eaten a bag of beef jerky and drank a sweet tea without paying. Authorities say he caused a “felony amount” of damage to the gas station and stole a “misdemeanor amount” of beef sticks.

Bertels remains in custody.