Law enforcement agencies in Pike and Amite counties and Tangipahoa and St. Helena parishes in Louisiana are continuing their investigations into a series of burglaries that have hit houses in all four areas.
According to authorities, the burglaries began about mid-July and continue along the Amite-Pike County line, and the Louisiana-Mississippi line in Tangipahoa and St. Helena parishes.
Authorities said burglars have struck at homes along Highway 24, from the East Fork community to the Pike-Amite county line, although Pike County chief deputy Steve Rushing said sheriff’s investigators believe the people involved in the break-ins may have hit some homes in Pike County.
The exact number of burglaries was unavailable at presstime.
Amite County investigator Gary Austin and Rushing said authorities are now beginning to get better information on how the burglaries were carried out.
They said the break-ins have one common identity — in each case, the doors were kicked in, and the suspects have taken only a few items.
“In one, they took a TV and jewelry and jug of change,” Austin said.
The method of entry, however, is the only piece of information that authorities are willing to release.
The burglaries have residents in the East Fork community of Amite County concerned, one resident said.
“We as members of the East Fork community do wish the sheriff’s office would do their best to solve these crimes,” said the resident, who asked not to be named. “The people here did not know this was going on. I know of some elderly people who live by the highway who didn’t know about the burglaries.”
The resident said the home of one of his relatives had been hit several times.
