$60K worth of copper wire stolen

Several people arrested in Leake County last week are suspected of taking about $60,000 in copper wire ripped from telephone poles in the Burnside and Arlington communities here last year.

The Leake County Sheriff’s Office arrested a group of alleged copper thieves last week and charged them with grand larceny which is the taking of $25,000 or more. 

Arrested in Leake County on Feb. 21 were:

• Michael Jones, 26, 910 Rice Creek Road Carthage;

• Hailee Allen, 24, 910 Rice Creek Road, Carthage; 

• Michael Johnson, 46, 3134 Highway 16 West, Carthage;

• Mason Cranfill, 21, 3143 Highway 16 West, Carthage.

All four have been linked to the Neshoba County thefts, Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark said, along with Dustin Jones, 28, 3134 Highway 16 West, Carthage. 

On Aug. 21, 2023, and Sept. 27, 2023, it was reported to the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office that copper wire was stolen from poles in the Burnside community and along Marty Stuart Drive at Arlington. 

Jones was arrested by Neshoba County deputies and charged with grand larceny.

During the investigation, it was determined that the group used climbing spikes to climb the poles and cut the wires.

They used mule tape to tie to the wire and pull it down to the ground. 

The group would pile wire and then return later to load it. 

Neshoba County deputies located wire trimmings in an old dirt pit on Blackjack Road. The copper was reportedly sold to a scrap yard in the Jackson area.

The suspects are all awaiting a bond hearing in Leake County, according to Clark. 

Once released from Leake County, he said they will be transferred to Neshoba County and face grand larceny charges.

They are also suspects in copper wire thefts in Attala, Scott, and Pearl River counties, Clark said.

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