Pair held in thefts, would-be spending spree

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 11, 2009

A Vicksburg couple was in the Warren County Jail this morning after a stolen credit card was used in a shopping spree.

Jennifer Dampeer, 28, 100 Kings Drive, and Eugene Lewis Jr., 22, 1900 Baldwin Ferry Road, were arrested at 3:06 p.m. at Wal-Mart SuperCenter, 2150 Iowa Blvd., for attempting to use a stolen credit card to purchase more than $320 in goods.

Police were notified when the card was declined, said Sgt. Sandra Williams.

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Dampeer and Lewis also were identified as the suspects in two county residential burglaries.

At 11 a.m. in the 100 block of Laura Lake Road, jewelry and a cell phone were reported missing, said Sheriff Martin Pace. Just after 5 p.m. in the 9700 block of Halls Ferry Road, credit cards were stolen. One was used at Wal-Mart, Pace said.

As the two were being moved to county custody, Lewis fled on foot from the police department, shackled with a waist chain, said Williams. He was caught in two blocks.

Both are charged with credit card fraud, residential burglaries and grand larceny, and Lewis is charged with a felony escape by the city, said Williams.

Also missing from one of the homes was a cell phone valued at $350, a diamond ring valued at $8,000 and a pair of earrings valued at $6,000.

Separately, speakers and amplifiers for a Yamaha home theater system valued at $1,000 were reported missing from a van parked in the 3100 block of Mount Alban Road at 9:04 p.m.

Woman charged in check scam

A Vicksburg woman was released on bond from the Warren County Jail Tuesday for passing bad checks.

Bethan Smollen, 19, 2340 Drummond St., was arrested and charged with four counts of uttering a forgery stemming from a report filed by Mutual Credit Union in November.

Guard attacked; cashbox stolen

A ticket money box was stolen from a security guard-gatekeeper at Warren Central High School Tuesday afternoon, county records said.

The guard said he was sitting in a chair near his car, with the cash box inthe car when he was approached by two men, one of whom threw him to the ground while the other stole the box. About $400 was taken. No weapons were used, and the guard was not injured. The suspects escaped on foot into the woods.

Fire reported at vacant mill

A fire at a vacant lumber mill on Levee Street was reported Tuesday evening, but Vicksburg Fire Department officials declined to say how much damage the building received.

Vicksburg Fire Department inspector Leslie Decareaux said the fire, which was fought by five firefighters and two trucks, was accidental and contained to one room. The fire was reported at 6:45 and firemen were there until 8, she said.