Law Enforcement Report
City Crime Report
By Jack Gurner
Reporter
WATER VALLEY – Police are asking for help from the public to solve burglaries in the 300 block of Dupuy St. that occurred on Monday, June 9, and in the 700 block of Wagner on Wednesday, June 18. Lt. Rick McCuan reported that two backpacks and various electronics were taken from the home sometime between 8 a.m. and noon.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the police department or CrimeStoppers at 1-866-933-TIPS or by email to TIPS@YalobushaCounty.net.
Crime Stoppers does not want your name, just your information. All contacts will remain in the strictest confidence and none can be traced. Tipsters may be able to collect up to $1,000 for your confidential information.
The public is urged to be more aware of suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.
Lt. McCuan reported the following additional law enforcement activity within the Water Valley City limits during the past week:
• Made five arrests for driving under suspension;
• Made two arrests for possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle;
• Made an arrest for simple domestic assault;
• Made an arrest possession of marijuana;
• Made an arrest for shoplifting, first offense;
• Made an arrest for no drivers license;
• Took two reports of petty larceny;
• Took a report of identity theft;
• Took a report of malicious mischief;
• Took three accident reports;
• Issued a citation for violation of the leash law;
• Issued 32 traffic citation;
• Investigated three crashes.
County Crime Report
By David Howell
Editor
WATER VALLEY – Though Yalobusha has been spared in recent weeks, three neighboring counties have reported church burglaries with a similar pattern.
A church in Grenada County, three in Panola and two in Lafayette County have all been targeted in what Yalobusha County Sheriff Lance Humphreys has described for weeks as the work of a professional ring. Neighboring Calhoun County also experienced break-ins during a similar time frame as the Yalobusha burglaries. Yalobusha has eight reported church burglaries.
Other counties affected include Chickasaw, Choctaw, Carroll and Montgomery.
“We remain on the lookout for suspicious behavior and have repeatedly asked the public for help,” Humphreys said.
The break-ins bear a similar pattern, starting with targeting a church usually located off the beaten path.
“They will break a window or a door hoping for a quick entry,” Humphreys said. The breach typically occurs in early morning hours, the sheriff added.
Targeted in each of the break-ins is typically audio equipment, speakers, amplifiers, keyboards, and similar items.
“They seem to really like Peavey equipment,” Humphreys added.
In two of the three burglaries in Panola County, churches had an alarm system that helped minimize losses, according to published reports.
In the third Panola County church break-in at McIvor Creek M.B. Church near Sardis, two keyboards and a large amplifier was taken, according to Panola Board of Supervisors President Robert Avant, who is a member.
Making the cases more difficult to investigate in Yalobusha is the fact that only one of the eight churches hit had recorded the serial number, make and model of the missing equipment, according to Humphreys.
“We continue to ask churches to help take a few precautions that could thwart a potential break-in,” the sheriff said.
Securing doors at churches with deadbolts and latches at the top and bottom could deter the crime.
“It seems whoever is doing these crimes do not want to spend a lot of time trying to get in,” Humphreys said.
Humphreys is also asking churches to record serial numbers of anything valuable in the church.
Humphreys also asked churches to put some type of marking on their equipment, like writing the church name with an etcher or placing a sticker on the inside of a speaker.
Anyone who has information about the church break-ins or any other crimes is urged to contact Yalobusha Crime Stoppers.
Crime Stopper’s TIPS information may be submitted by calling (662) 473-4935 or 1-(866) 933-TIPS (8477); or by email to TIPS@YalobushaCounty.net.
Remember, Crime Stoppers does not want your name, just your information. All letters, calls and emails will remain in the strictest confidence. (No phone calls or emails can be traced.) You may be able to collect up to $1,000 for your confidential information.
In other county law enforcement news during the last week:
• Deputies responded to a restaurant fire on County Road 432 near Coffeeville last Wednesday morning, June 11. Humphreys reported the fire started in two different locations at separate times prompting an investigation from the Mississippi State Fire Marshal’s office.
• Deputies responded to a grand larceny on Hwy. 32. A 16-foot trailer was taken in the incident.
• Deputies took a report of check forgery;
• Deputies made an arrest on County Road 220 for domestic violence on June 10;
• Deputies worked a traffic accident on County Road 95 on June 12;
• Deputies responded to a report of burglary and grand larceny on County Road 432. The stolen items, which have been returned to the owner, included jewelry, electronics, clothes and money. Two arrest warrants have been issued in the case.
• Deputies responded to a domestic violence call on County Road 212 on June 15. Two people were arrested.
• Deputies responded to a malicious mischief call;
• Deputies answered two alarm calls in separate incidents;
• Deputies reported to a call of a peeping tom on County Road 494 on June 12;
• Deputies worked two traffic accidents in the morning hours on June 12;
• Deputies transported a prisoner to Sardis for court on June 13;
• Deputies responded to a report of assault on County Road 260;
• Deputies unlocked a car at Persimmon Hill camp area on June 13;
• Deputies assisted with an assault call in Oakland;
• Deputies answered a burglary call on County Road 225;
• Deputies responded to a 911 call hangup on County Road 25;
• Deputies took an incident report at the intersection of County Road 53 and 18;
• Deputies responded to a suspicious person call on June 15 at 6:30 a.m. on County Road 432;
• Deputies also responded to a suspicious person call on June 16 on Interstate 55 on the north-bound lane;
• Deputies traveled to the Tillatoba Post Office to unlock a vehicle;
• Deputies assisted a stranded motorist; and
• Deputies worked a domestic dispute call on June 17.
