CRIME * From Staff Reports

Two Hinds County men have been arrested in a theft ring that Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said is responsible for more than $150,000 in equipment and vehicles stolen from Warren and Hinds county businesses and residences.

The two arrests on Wednesday bring the total to nine. Additionally, another suspect, who had been arrested last month in Hinds County, was arrested again and charged in more of the thefts.

Picked up by Warren and Hinds county deputies were Howard Hill, 38, 349 Swan Ridge Drive of Jackson, and Donald Dowe, 56, 4545 Tank Road of Terry. Hill was arrested at 10 a.m. at his home and charged with accessory after the fact of grand larceny, while Dowe was picked up at 3 p.m. at a convenience store in Utica and charged with grand larceny, Warren County Jail records said. Both posted bond and were released from jail.

In addition, Derrick Curtis, 29, who lives at 3314 Fleetwood St. in Jackson, was arrested Thursday for a second time in the thefts. He surrendered at the Warren County Sheriff’s Department at 1:10 p.m. and was charged with two more counts of grand larceny. He was released from jail after posting a $10,000 bond. Curtis had been arrested Feb. 22 in Hinds County and was charged with grand larceny.

Also Thursday, deputies went to Hinds County and recovered another trailer and two four-wheelers, Warren County Chief Deputy Jay McKenzie said. The total value was $14,000. Last weekend local authorities went to Harrison County and recovered about $40,000 in vehicles and lawn equipment. No arrests were made at either time.

The first five arrests came Feb. 22, and Pace said then the thefts occurred in November and December.

The thieves were stealing goods in Warren and Hinds county in Mississippi and storing or selling them in Madison and Tensas parishes in Louisiana, Pace said.

The arrests have followed a combined effort by sheriff’s offices in all the counties and parishes.

Reported stolen throughout the operation were outdoor equipment, recreational vehicles and other vehicles.

Lawn equipment, cash among missing items

Weed trimmers, a car title, a laptop computer and cash were stolen in three burglaries reported to the Vicksburg Police Department Thursday.

At 7:49 a.m., two weed trimmers were reported stolen from a yard in the 900 block of Bowmar Avenue. The report also said a parked vehicle was burglarized. The keys to the vehicle and the car title were reported stolen.

A laptop computer valued at $800 was reported stolen from Travelers Rest Baptist Church, 718 Bowmar Ave. The burglary was reported at 11:18 a.m.

At 3:35 p.m., an auto burglary was reported in the parking lot of a McDonald’s restaurant at 2416 Iowa Blvd. Reported stolen from the Nissan Maxima was $340.