By John Howell Sr.

and Billy Davis

Batesville police have compared the June 30 burglaries in the Pollard Street area with a series of similar thefts in five Delta counties, Police Detective Paul Shivers said.

“We’re pretty confident that the people involved in these other cities are the same ones,” Shivers said.

Thieves targeted unlocked parked cars on Pollard, Bruce Marie Boyles and Boothe streets early Monday, June 30, gaining a treasure trove that included firearms, purses, wallets, iPods, digital cameras, credit cards, cash and pocket change from center consoles and glove compartments.

Similar thefts have occurred in Tallahatchie, Leflore, Humphreys, Coahoma and Bolivar counties, the police detective said. Debit cards taken in at least one theft have been used in Memphis and Cleveland, he added.

Officers are comparing surveillance video footage of the debit card users as part of their investigation, the police detective continued.

Meanwhile, a trio of vehicle break-ins that occurred in Panola County on or around July 16 did not appear to be related to the Batesville thefts, said Panola Chief Deputy Otis Griffin.

Griffin said two homeowners in the city limits of Pope, and a second homeowner in the Mt. Olivet area, reported items stolen from their vehicle.

Griffin said thieves broke windows in two of the three thefts. Among items taken was a Beretta pistol stolen from an unlocked vehicle on Main Street in Pope.