SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — Criminals were caught on camera breaking into schools and businesses. Now the DeSoto County Sherriff’s Office and Southaven Police Department are working together to solve the crimes.
Strike Zone Bowling Lanes in Southaven is one of several businesses broken into. The manager says criminals used a piece of asphalt to break in. They threw it at the window and got inside.
“Two of them jumped over this counter, started snatching all my cash drawers from my computers. The other went into the snack and snatched my cash bars from over there,” owner Charles Stone said.
Stone says three men were caught on camera breaking into his business Tuesday night. Police have the video but aren’t releasing it yet.
The criminals got away with about $5,000 in cash. They also took the safe.
“It bothers you. It bothers you that one of us could have been in here, one of us could have rolled up in here when one of them were in here, and you just never know what could have happened, it’s scary,” Stone said.
Bowlers say what’s even scarier is knowing other businesses were broken into the same night, including the recreation center next door to the bowling alley.
“It’s unbelievable that they’re that brave,” Stone said.
The DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office is also looking into break-ins there. They released pictures to WREG of men caught on camera breaking into Center Hill Elementary Tuesday night. The men didn’t take anything.
Investigators say three men also broke into Desoto Central Middle School and took two TVs last week.
“At this point, we believe it’s all the same suspects that have committed all the burglaries throughout the night,” George Little with the Southaven Police Department said.
Now investigators need your help identifying the men, believed to be driving a Silver SUV.
If you have any information that could help lead to an arrest, call the Desoto County Sheriff’s Office or Southaven Police.