A would-be burglar at Powell’s Liquor Store left a number of video images of himself recorded early Sunday morning by surveillance cameras before he was scared off by an alarm.

Batesville Police Captain Clyde Estridge and Sergeant Justin Maples were nearby on Highway 6, monitoring the flow of westbound traffic leaving the Ole Miss ballgame when they were notified of an alarm activation at Powell’s, near the intersection of Mt. Olivet Road and Highway 6.

“As we finished the traffic detail, BPD dispatched the call so Captain Estridge and I were on the scene within a matter of seconds,” Maples’ incident report states. The officers searched the area around the building and were joined by Sergeant Michael Hardin and his dog, Miak, but to no avail, according to the report.

By Monday, detectives Captain Paul Shivers and Tommy Crutcher were reviewing videos recorded during the burglary attempt. The suspect, who appears to be an African American male of slim build, medium-to-dark complexion and medium height. The man is wearing his hair in braids, but they are contained with a hair band into a short pony tail at the back of his head.

The suspect is wearing a distinctive, white tee-shirt in the video worn full-length outside his pants. A gray skull with wings extended is printed in gray on the center front of the tee-shirt.
The video shows the suspect as he walks around to the front of the store, peers inside, and walks back and forth, either deliberating or planning. Occasionally in the background on Highway 6 can be seen the lights of cars returning from the Ole Miss game. Once, when a car passes on the Mt. Olivet Road, the suspects runs from the front of the building, to return moments later.

Finally, the suspect takes a brick and smashes the glass front door, setting off the alarm that sends the would-be burglar fleeing from view. Moments later, police cars can be seen as the pull up to the front of the building.

The Powell’s Liquor Store burglary attempt was one of three similar attempts at smash-and-grab burglaries in Batesville early Sunday morning. Another attempt at Mr. Jiffy Number 3, 229 Pearson Street yielded an undetermined amount of cash.
Mr. Jiffy suffers loss

Video surveillance also recorded the perpetrator’s image at the Mr. Jiffy burglary. Police had reviewed that video but had not yet received a copy. The burglar appears to be a different person than the one who struck Powell’s, Crutcher said.

Patrolman Cole Hubbard was dispatched to the Mr. Jiffy Number 3 store when a caller reported the sound of glass breaking there, according to the patrolman’s report. Hubbard found the front glass door broken. He was joined by Sergeant Michael Hardin. The officers searched the store’s interior and noticed the cash drawer pulled out and a box of cigars lying on the floor.

C and E Carry Out at 221 Panola Avenue was also the victim a smash and grab attempt. Patrolman Daniel Chandler spotted the damaged front door at the store while on patrol.
“Upon further investigation it appeared that the glass had been hit several times and possibly kicked in an effort for damage the door and gain entry to the business,” Chandler’s report stated. The store owner came to the site and told officers that nothing appeared to have been taken from the inside of the store. She estimated the damage to the doorway to be $400, Chandler’s report states.

Anyone who provides information that proves useful in prosecuting the criminals responsible for these attempts can call Crimestoppers of North Central Mississippi, 1-800-729-2169, and qualify for a cash reward up to $1,000, Captain Shivers said. The caller does not have to give his or her name. Arrangements for payment do not require the person giving the information to identify himself or herself.

The Batesville Police Department also offers a cash reward, but not in addition to the Crimestoppers reward, Shivers said. Contact the police department at 563-5653.