Gautier PD Hunting Down Suspects After Car Chase
The suspects in a series of car burglaries in Gautier took police on a high speed chase Wednesday morning that ran more than 20 miles, ending in Ocean Springs. Officer Christopher Brown of Gautier’s Crime Prevention Unit, says, "The suspects were trying to break into some cars at Indian Point RV Park and they were spotted, and they fled."
The chase led officers down Gautier/Vancleave Road, west on I-10 to Exit 57, then down Ocean Springs Road until the suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot. The suspects escaped, but officers are closing in. Brown also says, "We’re working on several leads in order to identify the responsible and to bring them in for questioning."
While police are confident they’ll catch the suspects, they have a message for the rest of the community. Police say that these types of burglaries increase during the holidays, and drivers should be vigilant about locking their vehicles. Brown says, "Safety with your belongings is very important, especially during the holiday season. This is a crime of opportunity, whenever people are scoping out vehicles, looking for burglaries in that regard, they are looking for easy targets."
Not all crime is preventable, but there are ways to avoid being an easy target. Brown also says, "Lock up your car, hide your personal belongings. If you go shopping, make sure the merchandise is not in view of the windows."
Wednesday’s case began with a call from a concerned resident who saw the suspects and reported the crime. Authorities say its citizens like this who help prevent crime. Brown closes, "We can only do so much. We can be out there patrolling, but if the people in the community are more perceptive, it will make our jobs a lot easier.”
If you have any information regarding this incident, please call the Gautier Police Department at (228) 497-2486.
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