The onset of the holiday season is already seeing an early increase in the number of auto and home burglaries in Indianola and the surrounding areas. Last week’s Cops and Robbers’ section of the E-T listed nearly a dozen burglaries in a seven-day period.
Indianola Chief Edrick Hall indicated that his department is not the only one experiencing a rise in this type of criminal activity and even though no arrest was reported at this time, Hall said they have been interviewing a possible person of interest. “We believe we have one person in custody, who we have placed a hold on, who has been committing burglaries through the entire Delta area,” he said.
Hall said they are working closely with other law enforcement agencies to get some answers. “Greenwood Police Department has also recovered a couple hundred items that are stolen and we are working with them to see if any items belong to victims in Indianola,” Hall said.
The question arose earlier in the year, with regard to auto burglaries; about whether or not it was better to lock your vehicle or leave it unlocked so the criminals would not break the windows and Hall offers this advise. “Of course we still stress lock up all your items (and) vehicles, don't leave guns, electronics, and other high-value items in the car overnight.”
He also said it pays to be vigilant. “The closer we get to the holidays, property crime and con artist and scheming begins, so just stay on alert,” he said.
