Berkeley Police Arrest Man in AC Theft
Travis Blassingame is accused of stealing an air conditioner from Prince of Peace Church and damaging a second unit.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Property Crime
Berkeley Police arrested Travis Blassingame for stealing an air conditioning unit from Prince of Peace Church on March 11. The St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office has charged him with stealing $750 or more and institutional vandalism.
Why it matters
The theft and damage to church property highlight the costs that property crimes can impose on community institutions. Surveillance footage and cooperation between neighboring police agencies helped identify the suspects.
Blassingame was issued a summons to appear in court on Wednesday, Dec. 9, on charges of stealing $750 or more and institutional vandalism. The second suspect has not been publicly identified or charged.
The players
Travis Blassingame
A St. Louis-area man charged in connection with the theft of an air conditioning unit from Prince of Peace Church.
St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney's Office
The county office responsible for prosecuting criminal offenses in St. Louis County, Missouri, which filed the charges in this case.
The details
Surveillance video showed Blassingame and another person removing one air conditioner from Prince of Peace Church in the 9300 block of Natural Bridge Road. When the suspects attempted to take a second unit with bolt cutters, the cutters shorted its circuitry and broke the refrigerant line-set.
Timeline
March 11: Theft occurred at Prince of Peace Church.
Wednesday, Dec. 9: Blassingame is scheduled to appear in court under a summons.
Legal Context
Missouri law treats the theft of property valued at $750 or more as a felony, which is the charge filed against Blassingame. Cases involving damage to institutional property, such as churches, can add vandalism counts that increase the overall exposure for defendants.
Businesses and religious institutions in the area may consider securing outdoor HVAC equipment to deter similar thefts. Residents who notice suspicious activity around commercial property can report it to local police.
The takeaway
Securing outdoor equipment and reporting suspicious activity can help deter thefts that damage community property. Surveillance footage often plays a key role in identifying suspects in cases like this one.
What happens next
Blassingame is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Dec. 9, under the summons issued to him.
Further reading
For more local coverage of thefts and vandalism, see Property Crime reporting.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fox2Now.
