Surveillance camera captures suspect in theft at church

Surveillance camera captures suspect in theft at church

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Sheriff’s deputies are searching for a suspect caught by a surveillance camera in connection with a car burglary at a local church.

The Neshoba Sheriff’s Office is looking for the person responsible for taking catalytic converters from the church van at the Ocobla Baptist Church on Mississippi 16 east Thursday morning around 3:30 a.m.

“We are working diligently,” said Sheriff Eric Clark. “We have received tips and are following up on each tip.”

The SUV in a photo posted to Clark’s Facebook page was missing taillights on the driver's side, officials said.

Earlier in May, Clark said he had heard reports that Lauderdale County law enforcement had been dealing with the issue and he knew of several instances in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Police Chief Eric Lyons said at the time that the city had recorded about three or four such instances in early May and late April. He said targeted vehicles tend to be Fords and Dodges. The thieves appear to be operating at night, likely after midnight and that most of the vehicles have been parked at businesses.

Lyons said that as of May 11 they did not have a lot to go on because so far they have not been able to get surveillance video footage of potential suspects, though they do have a vehicle description.

PPD spokesman Bobby Pattillo said their investigation continues.

‘We are still working on it and are following a few leads,” Pattillo said. 

Clark said in early May his department had already dedicated resources to the case. He said the thieves are sliding under vehicles and cutting the catalytic converters off of the exhaust systems with a cutting tool.

Clark said the street value of the items range between $75 and $150 but that victims will have to spend many times that to replace a stolen catalytic converter.

Specifically, Clark said one had been stolen from a car parked in the lot across the street from D&W Tire. He said a number of vehicles from the AT&T maintenance fleet on Waterview Lane between lakeside Drive and Beacon Street had been hit as well.

“When they came in in the morning and people started cranking up their service trucks they knew something was wrong,” Clark said.

Crimestoppers is offering a reward for information related to the case, Clark and Lyons said. Lyons recommended that residence and business owners invest in cameras and motion sensor lights to deter potential thieves.

If you have any information about these thefts, please call 1-855-485-8477 (TIPS) or 601-656-1414 for the Sheriff’s Office and 601-656-2131 for the Police Station.






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