Police nab suspects in rash of car burglaries after chase, crash

Published 9:37 am Friday, March 10, 2017

Vicksburg police were holding two men Thursday for questioning about series of 31 auto burglaries occurring in the city between Monday and Wednesday, Capt. Sandra Williams said.

She said the two were taken into custody after a chase that resulted in a two-car wreck at the intersection of Halls Ferry Road and Pemberton Boulevard. No charges have been filed.

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The burglaries were scattered throughout the city with the thieves hitting South Frontage Road, Wisconsin Avenue and side streets, streets in the southeast part of town, the Old Vicksburg area and Marcus Bottom.

“These were some very busy guys,” Police Chief Walter Armstrong said. “We have been working hard to catch those guys since this rash of burglaries began.”

Williams said officers were given photographs of a white Toyota Tundra pickup seen on video from one of the areas where some of the burglaries occurred.

Armstrong said a patrol officer saw a truck matching the description of the truck in the video in the area around Drummond Street. When the officer put on his blue lights to stop the truck, the driver sped off, starting the chase.

“The first officer lost sight of the truck but another officer hearing the radio traffic was able to locate them and continued pursuit until the truck ran the red light at the intersection of Halls Ferry and Pemberton (Boulevard) and collided with another car,” he said. He said the driver of the other car received what he said were minor injuries.

“I want to commend the officers for their efforts,” Armstrong said. “Our officers are dedicated to protecting and serving the citizens of Vicksburg. We have had a busy week with these burglaries and the murder we had this week. We had photos of the truck and the two men involved.”

He said officers worked overtime to solve the burglaries. “I congratulate them for their hard work that resulted in two arrests for the murder and for solving these burglaries,” he said.

“These people need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he said. “They violated people’s privacy and created a hardship for them. We want to make sure they get very familiar with the inside of a jail cell. They were trying to make a living off the backs of the citizens of Vicksburg, and we will not tolerate that.”

The list of burglaries includes:

March 8:

• A purse and contents were reported stolen from a 2013 Dodge Avenger parked at the Commodore Apartments, 605 Cain Ridge Road.

• Nothing was reported stolen in the break-in of a 2014 Toyota Corolla parked at the Commodore Apartments.

• Nothing was reported stolen in the break-in of a 2006 Toyota Camry parked at the Commodore Apartments.

• Nothing was reported stolen in the break-in of a 1995 Toyota Corolla parked at the Commodore Apartments.

March 7:

• A Taurus .45-caliber handgun was reported stolen in the break-in a 2009 Ford F-150 pickup parked in the parking lot of Walmart.

March 6:

• A pair of high top Nikes, one pair of shoes, a 9mm Jimenez handgun and bullets, and a pair of earrings were reported stolen in the break-in of a 2016 Chevrolet Camaro parked at the Cannongate Apartments, 3425 Wisconsin Ave.

• Cash was reported stolen in the break-in of a 1994 Mercury Marquis parked at the Cannongate Apartments.

• An air compressor, John Deere air hose and gas tank with a total value of $1,300 was reported stolen from a car parked in the 100 block of Maison Rue.

• Nothing was reported stolen in the break-in of a car parked in the 100 block of Maison Rue.

• Bank account information was reported stolen in the break-in a 2009 Nissan parked at the Cannongate apartments.

• A leather case containing documents was reported stolen from a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe parked in the 100 block of Fleur de Lis Drive.

• Nothing was reported stolen pending an inventory from a car parked at the Cannongate Apartments.

• Nothing was reported stolen in the break-in of a Honda Accord parked at the Crossings Apartments, 2160 South Frontage Road.

• A camera, technical books and a pair of gloves were reported stolen from a 2014 Nissan Altima parked at the Crossings Apartments.

• An iPad mini, two iPads, and a wallet with credit cards were reported stolen from a 2014 Nissan Altima parked at the Crossings Apartments.

• A purse and contents were reported stolen from a 2013 Nissan Rogue parked at the Crossings Apartments.

• An oxygen tank was reported stolen from a 2010 Camaro parked at the Crossings Apartments.

• Nothing was reported stolen in the break-in of a car parked in the 2600 block of Roosevelt Street.

• Nothing was reported stolen in the break-in of a 2005 Ford pickup parked in the 2500 block of Ken Karyl Ave.

• Cash was reported stolen from a 2010 Pontiac G6 parked in the 2500 block of Ken Karyl Ave.

• An iPhone 5 and a wallet and contents were reported stolen from a 2014 Dodge Charger parked in the 2500 block of Ken Karyl Ave.

• Nothing was reported stolen in the break-in of a 2016 Nissan Rogue parked in the 2000 block of Rainey Drive.

March 5:

• A Samsung Galaxy tablet and a purse with its contests were reported stolen from a 2004 Chevrolet Malibu parked at the Crawford Apartments, 605 Cain Ridge Road.

• A checkbook was reported stolen from a 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe parked in the 1200 block of Jefferson Street.

• Nothing was reported stolen in the break-in of a 2004 Toyota Camry.

• A Michael Kors wallet and cash was reported stolen from a 2017 Ford parked in 1000 block of Mundy Street.

• A 9mm Springfield handgun was reported stolen from a 2010 Chevrolet Silverado pickup parked in the 1100 block of First East Street.

• A pecan pie and a false Yeti cup were reported stolen from a Chevrolet Silverado pickup parked in the 1100 block of First East Street.

• A Michael Kors purse with contents and three pair of Air Jordan shoes were reported stolen from a 2011 Toyota Camry parked in the 100 block of North Locust.

• Nothing was reported taken from the break-in of a 2000 Honda Accord parked in the 100 block of North Locust.

• Nothing was reported stolen in the break-in of a 2004 Chevrolet Z71 pickup parked in the 1200 block of Price Street.

• Nothing was reported stolen in the break-ins of a 2005 Nissan Altima and a 2005 Hyundai Sonata parked in the 1200 block of Main Street.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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