Two suspects from Jackson wanted for several auto burglaries in Vicksburg last weekend are also being investigated in the break-ins of dozens of other vehicles in the area over the past year, said Vicksburg Police.

Officials released photos of Patrick Dee Johnson, 25, no address available, and Emishia Earies Branson, 20, 963 Chastin Dr., Friday, a day after issuing warrants for their arrest in seven auto burglaries and one auto theft at Pemberton Square mall, Ameristar Casino and River Region West on Sunday. Items reported missing included electronics, credit cards and firearms valued at more than $3,000.

VPD investigators were looking at around 50 similar auto thefts from the past year to determine any links to Johnson or Branson, said Capt. Mark Culbertson.

&#8220That doesn’t mean they’re suspects in all 50 of them,” Culbertson said, &#8220but that does mean they’re similar enough that we’re going to go back over them … We’re looking at those right now.”

The modus operandi of the break-ins last weekend was reminiscent of a string of burglaries just before the new year, Culbertson said, when police responded to 15 auto burglary calls over the weekend of Dec. 16-18, and another 12 over Christmas weekend, Dec. 22-26. Altogether, thieves made away with thousands in cash, stereo equipment, laptop computers, DVD players, clothes, guns, cameras, cell phones, compact discs and assorted Christmas presents from those burglaries, also mostly concentrated around Ameristar Casino and Pemberton Square.

In both strings, as in the most recent burglaries, thieves seemed to specifically target Ford F-150s and F-250s, hitting half a dozen of the pickups in December and three last weekend, along with a Ford Escort. Most of those vehicles were entered through the driver’s side door handle, said Sgt. Tom Wilson.

The thieves lift up the handle until they can insert a screwdriver or other slender metal device into one of two small holes underneath the handle and pick the lock, Wilson said. Because it doesn’t require damaging the locks or breaking glass, the entry can go undetected except for small pry marks around the holes underneath the handle.

A Chevrolet pickup was also entered this way in December. Two Chevrolets and two GMC sport utility vehicles were among the vehicles targeted last weekend.

Jackson police have also issued arrest warrants for Johnson and Branson, Culbertson said.

&#8220Both individuals are wanted by JPD for other various charges and JPD and Hinds County Sheriff’s Department are assisting us in the investigation,” he said.