A string of vandalisms across the city has come to an end as nine suspects were arrested.

Five juvenile suspects ranging in age from 16-17 and four 18-year-olds are being held at the Warren County Youth Detention Center and the Issaquena County Correctional Facility, pending further investigation and formal charges.

“They terrorized this community for a few days and we worked around the clock until we shut it down,” Vicksburg Police Chief Walter Armstrong said. “We ended a week of terror.”

The arrests were the results of tips from Crime Stoppers and the community and old-fashioned police work.

“We didn’t leave any stones unturned and we felt it was young people committing those crimes, and we got our break from the community and they gave us a really good tip and we followed that tip,” Armstrong said.

“We did receive a Crime Stoppers tip that will be paid as well as a tip from another individual,” Capt. Sandra Williams said. “Crime Stoppers definitely works.”

The tip gave the police department a lead to follow and old-fashioned police work led to additional arrests.

“They were not all arrested at the same time, Williams said. “We actually had to go out and find some of them. Once we had a couple of them identified it basically snowballed.”

“I give all the credit to the Vicksburg Police Department and to this community who always come through for us,” Armstrong said. “We have a good working relationship with the community and we are only as good as the citizens we serve.”

The community serves as extra eyes and ears to the police department, he said.

“We received additional information, and around 1 a.m. Saturday we had all nine in custody,” Williams said. “The first suspect was arrested around 3:30 p.m. Friday.”

“Crime will not be tolerated in the City of Vicksburg,” Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said. “We want people to know we are working to make this city safe.”

“We will hunt them down and make sure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Armstrong said. “Monday, charges will be decided and can be very serious because of the amount of damages and could be upgraded to a felony.

“We will vigorously pursue charges against them and we hope the court will carry out their responsibility,” he said.

He cautioned parents to make sure they know where their kids are.

“Parents share in the responsibility as well; know where your children are every hour of the day,” Armstrong said.

VPD had increased patrols since 25 car windows were shattered with a BB gun, early Monday beginning in the Drummond Street area — Drummond, National, Markam, Polk and Urban Court.

After apparently leaving the Drummond Street area, the malicious mischief continued onto East Avenue, Edna Drive and Military Avenue and then along Eisenhower, and Enchanted Drive, Kings Row and Hillside Drive.

Burglary did not appear to be a motive. Nothing was reported missing from the vandalized cars.

Then Tuesday tempered glass windows were shot and shattered at Miller Tire Mart, 1709 Clay St., and Auto Plus parts store, 1601 Clay St.

Again, burglary did not appear to be a motive as no stock was missing from Auto Plus, despite the fact that merchandise was within arm’s length of the shattered window.

In addition to the three businesses, a window of a 1992 GMC was reported shot out at 6:40 a.m. Wednesday in the 2400 block of Washington St.

Anyone who had property destroyed during the crime spree should submit documentation indicating the cost of repairs to the Criminal Investigations Division at the Vicksburg Police Department.

Armstrong will release additional information on Monday, July 20, including photos of the suspects who are 18 years of age.