5 juveniles busted for store burglary

Five juveniles have been charged in a string of burglaries at the Hope Country Store over three months this summer.

The juveniles range in age from 13 to 16 and are being prosecuted through Neshoba County Youth Court.

The burglaries at Hope Country Store, 12901 Highway 488, started right after the Neshoba County Fair, according to Sheriff Eric Clark.

The first burglary was on July 30 at 11:44 p.m. The burglars took candy, drinks, vape pens, cigars, and $300 in cash. 

The second burglary occurred on Aug. 15 at 4:16 a.m. The owner reported chips, drinks, vape pens, and $300 in cash missing. 

The most recent burglary was on Sept. 4 at 1:27 a.m. The burglars only spent a few minutes inside the store and grabbed vape pens from the display case. 

Clark said the merchandise they stole was worth about $500 and that the suspects were not in the building a full minute.

The three burglaries were committed by a group of five juveniles from the area and three of the juveniles were involved in more than one store burglary, Clark said. 

“Neshoba County Sheriff’s Deputies have worked many hours in the community following leads on these cases,” Clark said. “Deputies have analyzed videos, interviewed potential suspects, increased patrol efforts and even hid nearby and kept the store under surveillance during the past few weeks.”  

Clark said a group of three juveniles were identified riding bikes on Highway 488 in the early morning hours following the Sept. 4 incident. Clark said they identified these three as suspects in the case and soon developed two additional juveniles as suspects.

Clark said all five juveniles will be prosecuted through Neshoba County Youth Court so their names have not been made public.

If you have any information on criminal activity in the Neshoba County-Philadelphia area, call 601-656-1414 or East Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 1-855-485-8477.