An attempted break-in was foiled by an alarm system early Monday at Clint’s Pharmacy on Monticello Street, authorities said.

     Brookhaven police responded at 3:24 a.m. on Feb. 20 to the pharmacy where the alarm was going off, according to Brookhaven Police Chief Pap Henderson.

     When officers arrived, they noticed a hole had been cut on the roof of the building. However, the would-be thieves did not make it inside the pharmacy because the alarm sounded before they could get through the ceiling, the chief said.

     The building next door, BeBe’s, also had a hole cut through the roof and the ceiling and the perpetrators made it inside, but then realized they had broken into the wrong store.

     “We’re thinking they went through the wrong roof trying to get to the pharmacy,” said Henderson.

     Clint Bane, owner of Clint’s Pharmacy, said the hole in the roof was about 2 feet wide.

     “It’s really not a lot of damage, it’s just a mess,” said Bane. “BeBe’s had a larger hole and some water damage. Some water came in and got on the floor in my store, but it wasn’t much.”

     Henderson said his officers found nothing missing inside the pharmacy. BeBe’s also reported nothing missing.

     Other areas in Southwest Mississippi have seen similar break-ins and Henderson believes the crimes are related.

     “There is a strong possibility the same people are doing the break-ins in the area,” said Henderson. “There are too many similarities. They’re only targeting pharmacies.”

     Henderson said it was unclear what the target of the break-in was, but Bane said he has an idea.

     “They’re probably just after the usual things,” said Bane. “I understand they’re breaking into several stores between here and Mobile (Ala.) and trying to get their hands on Oxycontin, oxycodone, Adderall, morphine.”

     BPD called the Brookhaven Fire Department for a ladder to get onto the roof, where they found a crow bar that is believed to be the tool used to attempt to break through the roof.

     “We assume a saw would have made too much noise,” said Henderson.

     Multiple people are believed to be involved, according to Henderson, but BPD has no suspects at this time.

     “It probably would take more than one person to do something like that,” said Henderson.

     Anyone witnessing any suspicious activity should immediately call the police or 911, said Henderson.