Weekend bandits steal ATV, snacks

Published 10:28 am Tuesday, July 14, 2015

BURGLARIZED: Adam Cook inspects a section of fence Monday that was removed overnight by burglars who stole equipment from his business, Cook Tractor Company.

BURGLARIZED: Adam Cook inspects a section of fence Monday that was removed overnight by burglars who stole equipment from his business, Cook Tractor Company.

A string of local businesses were broken into over the weekend.

Cook Tractor, a Vicksburg Parks and Recreation concession stand and Moma’s Hot Dog Stand were the targets of weekend thieves.

A 2014 Gravely four-wheel drive utility vehicle was stolen from Cook Tractor Monday morning. Owner Adam Cook said he arrived at the business at 7:15 a.m. and noticed track marks in the grass before his father reported the vehicle stolen. Cook also noticed the fence was cut.

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“They tried to take some other utility vehicles too,” Cook said.

He said the company has cameras on the property and after looking at the tapes from the cameras, Cook saw the suspects leave the business at 4:18 a.m. Monday.

Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace said Detective Stacy Rollinson is following leads but no arrests have been made.

Mission Park’s concession stand was broken into over the weekend. Vicksburg police Capt. Sandra Williams said 15 bags of sunflower seeds, 20 cans of soda, 40 bottles of Powerade, 20 bags of chips and a variety of candy bars were stolen.

Vicksburg Parks and Recreation director Joe Graves filed a police report about the theft and said the police department will increase their patrols to watch the park.

The locks on the window were missing and Graves has started to make improvements to the park, so theft does not happen again.

“We got some heavy duty locks to put on the windows. They can’t be cut with bolt cutters,” Graves said. “I talked to Northward Alderman Michael Mayfield, and we got everything fixed and back to normal.”

Theft has been a recurring problem at city parks. There was another concession stand burglary at Halls Ferry Park last year. Graves said Vicksburg police caught the burglars last year.

“Anytime you have a concession stand break-in, you hope they can catch those people,” Graves said. “We fixed everything back and better than it was.”

Sunday morning, three cases of sodas, Country Time Lemonade, chips, bananas and sausages were stolen from Mama’s Hot Dog Stand, 1209 Openwood St., Williams said.