Tools stolen from county

A break-in at the Neshoba County Unit Facility building in which a number of power tools were taken is under investigation, the authorities said.

Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark said his office received a report on the morning of June 3 at about 9:20 a.m. that an outbuilding at the County Unity Facility, 11901 Highway 15 North, on the bypass had been broken into.

An investigation determined that the doors of the building had been pried open using a shovel and broom handle, Clark said. Four chainsaws and a handheld blower were taken.

It appeared another building was broken into as well although nothing has been reported stolen. Clark said the perpetrator or perpetrators entered the facility by cutting a hole in the fence.

Clark said he reported the break-in to county officials during last week’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors as well as some security concerns for the Unit Facility and other county facilities where equipment is stored.

“Right now it's a sitting duck,” Clark said he told supervisors.

According to Clark, this is the second break-in at the Unit Facility in just under a year and a half. Last March, Clark said, a similar break-in occurred in which six chainsaws and an edge trimmer were taken. 

Later last year, In August a utility trailer was reported stolen from the Neshoba County Coliseum. Clark said he believes the three incidents could be related.

Clark said deputies are using every resource at their disposal including online resources and local informants to solve the theft of public property.

Anyone with any information is encouraged to call the NCSO at (601) 656-1414 or Crime Stoppers at 1-855-485-8477.