Interim Police Chief Capt. Patrick Jaco urges all citizens and business owners to be aware of a rash of burglaries that have been reported in the Jerry Clower Boulevard and Fifteenth Streets areas within Yazoo City.
“We are asking that you make sure that your buildings and homes are secured and all surveillance equipment is operational,” Jaco said. “Try to leave an exterior and at least one interior light on so the officers patrolling can see around and inside your building while on their routine patrol.”
Jaco said no arrests had been made as of press time, but that the Yazoo City Police Department has received several tips thanks to a social media post on the department’s new Facebook page. He added that leads are being investigated at this time.
Jaco said that six businesses in the area were targeted over the last couple of weeks. He also said he believes most of the incidents are connected to the same group of three suspects.
“We know they are connected because at most of the businesses, the electric meters outside the buildings were taken,” Jaco said. “This prevents the security and possible surveillance systems from working within the business. These suspects are who we are calling ‘the meter readers.’”
A former cellular company within the Dirt Cheap shopping center on Jerry Clower Boulevard was burglarized, along with a vape store near Jerry Clower and Twelfth Street. The Plaza Twin Cinema was also burglarized in the area.
“Using bolt cutters, they also cut the locks on several storage buildings behind the movie theater,” Jaco said.
The most recent incident occurred on Fifteenth Street at Calvin’s Barber Shop and Jr’s Hunting and Surplus. However, Jaco said the suspects were unsuccessful in entering the stores.
“We did have video surveillance from that particular incident,” Jaco said. “We are looking for three black males probably in their teens or early 20s.”
Tips may be reported to Crimestoppers at 601-756-TIPS or the police department at 662-746-5611.
