Tough on the VICTIMS of crime: St Louis Democrat mayor blames convenience store owners for crimes that happen on their property and vows to hold them 'accountable' for lawbreaking

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones has announced new plans to make convenience store owners more responsible for the crimes committed on or outside their property. 

Mayor Jones, St Louis' the first black female mayor, told leaders at the the Black Mayors' Coalition on Crime in Memphis that St Louis needs to combat violent crime and theft around convenience stores. 

'We have a lot of violence around convenience stores and gas stations,' Mayor Jones said on Thursday.  

'So how can we hold those business owners accountable and also bring down crime?' she asked.  

Adding: 'Some of the things we're already doing, we're finding that other mayors are doing as well.' 

Jones, who has been mayor since 2021, told the other Mayor's ideas, the details of which are not yet clear, will be adopted from laws in Atlanta, Georgia that make nightclub owners more liable for crimes on or near their property. 

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones has announced new plans to make convenience store owners more responsible for the crimes committed on or outside their property

'We have a lot of violence around convenience stores and gas stations,' Mayor Jones told the Black Mayors' Coalition on Crime on Thursday 

Robberies at Webster Groves gas station are possibly connected to others in metro, according to local police 

In January a woman was shot dead in a Jennings convenience store after a struggle ensued, local news reported.  

Earlier this month a man was shot at a QuikTrip store in south St. Louis, according to reports. 

The suspect was shot dead and the store's security guard was shot in the thigh in a struggle for his gun, according to local reports. 

Attacks have also focused on gas stations, such as the Webster Groves gas station that police have raised as potentially connected to other violent robberies.  

In 2023, St. Louis was ranked the third most dangerous city again behind Detroit and Michigan but also Baltimore. 

'The prevalence of firearms, coupled with limited gun control measures, further contributes to the overall crime rates in St. Louis,' real estate Norada wrote of the city.

It comes after a spate of violent attacks in the city, including the recent attack on fifteen-year-old Kaylee Gain earlier this month. 

Kaylee Gain's high school has refused to hand over records to the Missouri Attorney General after a vicious school fight left her fighting for her lifeIt comes after a spate of violent attacks in the city, including the recent attack on fifteen-year-old Kaylee Gain earlier this month.

Gain was attacked on March 8 by another teenage girl who slammed her head into the pavement. 

The teen was left with a fractured skull, brain bleeding, brain swelling, and in a coma for two weeks following the attack. 

Despite its high crime rate, stats did drop significantly in 2023 compared to the year before.

Shootings were down 24 percent from 2022, felony thefts were down 39 percent and shootings involving juveniles were down 47 percent, according to St Louis police.

The city also saw a drop of more than 40 homicides bringing killings to their lowest levels in more than a decade.