Brookhaven police are on the lookout for a suspect they believeis responsible for three home burglaries in the New Sight area overthe last few weeks, while Lincoln County Sheriff’s Departmentofficials have seen marked increase in burglaries in the county aswell.

Brookhaven Assistant Chief Nolan Jones said three burglariestook place in the New Sight Community on Sunday, Aug. 16, and thatthey appear to be related.

He said the first took place on Gatson Trail around 5:35 p.m.,and then the suspect seems to have cut through a wooded area toPandora Trail, where a home there was burglarized at 7:42 p.m.Finally, at 8:16 p.m., the suspect broke into a home on New SightDrive.

“He ransacked the house, all three of them really, but therewasn’t a lot taken,” Jones said. “At the last one he took a pickuptruck that has since been recovered, abandoned in Brookhaven.”

Jones said the suspect also helped himself to beer and wine insome of the houses he entered.

He said police are fairly certain of the man’s identity, andbelieve him to be involved in all three burglaries because themethod of entry into the home is the same on all of them. The backdoors of the homes were kicked in, the assistant chief said.

“We do have evidence that is at the crime lab, and we’re waitingon that to come back,” Jones said.

Meanwhile, Lincoln County officials are looking at anotherstring of burglaries in the southern part of the county.

Sheriff Steve Rushing said over the last few weeks to twomonths, a number of homes in the Bogue Chitto area have beenburglarized by someone who has taken things like computers, cameraequipment, jewelry and change.

He said three that look like they could be connected haveoccurred on Hog Chain Road, Pricedale Drive and Maple Trail. Hesaid there have been similarities in the method of entry in thoseburglaries as well.

“We’ve interviewed several suspects but nothing’s worked out sofar,” Rushing said. “We’re looking for any leads we can get frompeople in the south and east parts of the county.”

Rushing said Pike County officials said they have had someburglaries matching some of the same characteristics as the BogueChitto burglaries.

“We’re working with them to try to come up with some moreleads,” he said.

There have been other burglaries in both the city and the countythat appear unrelated to the two strings authorities have reported,authorities said. While Jones said things appear to be level on theburglary rate in the city, Rushing said they appear to be going upin the county.

“Most of them have been since school went back in,” saidRushing, adding that there is a better chance that nobody is athome during those times.

But authorities are in agreement that people need to watch outfor their neighbors. They said the best way to keep a safeneighborhood is to know who your neighbors are.

“Neighbors need to keep a look out for each other,” Jones said.”And if you see anything suspicious, call us.”