Four juveniles were arrested Monday night after Bainbridge Public Safety officers caught them breaking into Belk Department Store in the Bainbridge Mall.

According to an incident report, BPS Officer Ken Williams responded to an alarm call at 10:38 p.m. Monday. Upon arrival, Williams noticed two bikes on the ground outside, with a backpack lying next to each bike. One of the store’s entrance doors had been smashed, and when Williams went to investigate, he saw two young males with their faces covered, merchandise in hand, running toward the door.

With his weapon drawn, Williams ordered both males to stop and get on the floor. They complied and were arrested. Two other juveniles who were allegedly acting as lookouts for the burglary suspects were also taken into custody, BPS Director Eric Miller said Tuesday. A juvenile complaint was filed against all four juveniles and they were released to their parents.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the bikes found outside the store had been stolen from the Bainbridge Walmart earlier on Monday.

Therefore, the two youths caught inside Belk were both charged with shoplifting and burglary.

 

Rash of auto break-ins

A rash of auto break-ins were reported on the southern part of Bainbridge this week, according to BPS.

On Sunday, Nov. 4, BPS officers investigated severa; break-ins on Libby Street, off Gordon Avenue. As officers were looking in the area to find any other victims, they noticed numerous mailboxes had been opened and pieces of mail were scattered along roadways.

The “mail rampage” appeared to have started near the intersection of Alice Street and Tallahassee Highway, continued to Julia Circle, Pecan Street, Stewart Street, Botts Street and onto Libby Street.

Multiple auto-breakins were reported on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

The sites of the break-ins were reported at Azalea Park Apartments on the 1500 block of College Street, Selman Place Apartments off Gordon Avenue, the 1000 block of East Evans Street, the 700 block of Collier Street, the 1600 block of East Pine Street, the 1600 block of Mitchell Street, and at the Holiday Inn Express at 1415 Tallahassee Highway.

On the north side of town, an auto break-in was reported on the 1500 block of E. Water Street on Wednesday morning.

On Thursday, a man reported his car — parked in the shopping center at 1408 Tallahassee Highway, had been broken into sometime during the previous night.

A resident of Kyle’s Way off College Road reported Thursday morning that their car was broken into sometime during the previous night.

A resident of the 1000 block of East Alice Street reported that someone broke into their mailbox and removed some mail.

BPS Director Eric Miller said that with the Christmas holiday approaching, he believes thefts and burglaries will be on the increase. He asked citizens to be on the lookout for anyone acting suspicious in parking lots or walking late at night in residential areas.

 

Pecans stolen

The theft of approximately 400-500 pounds of pecans was reported at Harold’s Nut Company, 807 Dothan Road, on Monday morning. Someone had broken into the company’s pecan warehouse and took the pecans. Bainbridge Public Safety is investigating.