Missouri man charged with stealing ammo, selling it online

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – A Springfield, Missouri, man is accused of stealing ammunition from a Bass Pro Shops in St. Charles and selling it online.

According to the St. Charles Police Department’s probable cause statement, the thefts took place over a five-month period from late 2023 to early 2024, at the Bass Pro Shops store on South Fifth Street.

On Oct. 8, 2023, police said Daniel Scherer entered the store just before 7 p.m. and took 14 boxes of Hornady Black. 300 ammo boxes and a box of Browning .223 ammo without paying for it.

On Feb. 2, 2024, Scherer allegedly walked into the store around 5:50 p.m. He selected two boxes of Herters handgun ammo and 10 boxes of Winchester ammunition and hid the boxes in a Bass Pro Shops shopping bag. Scherer again left without paying.

Scherer returned to the Bass Pro Shops store around 12:20 p.m. on Feb. 5. He took two more boxes of Herters handgun ammo and left the store.

Police said Scherer drove a white 2018 Ford Edge to and from the store on each occasion. The total value of stolen ammunition was calculated at $2,329.71.

On May 2, police saw the vehicle in the parking lot outside the same Bass Pro Shops and confirmed the vehicle was registered to Scherer and another person.

On May 24, Scherer was arrested during a traffic stop near Ameristar Casino. Police said he was driving the same 2018 Ford Edge. During a search of the vehicle, police found several boxes of ammo and approximately 100 empty Bass Pro Shops shopping bags.

While in custody, police said Scherer admitted stealing the ammo and selling it online. Scherer also said he received payment for the stolen ammo via Zelle.

The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Scherer with one count of stealing and two counts of stealing – $750 or more. Scherer will be arraigned on Jan. 8, 2025.