Deputies are looking for a quartet of alleged thieves who broke into a dollar store to steal smokes, but didn’t leave with them.

Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing said the doors at two Dollar General stores were jimmied open and security cameras show four people — presumably males — breaking into the stores. They hit the Dollar General on Hwy. 84 West at 2:55 a.m. Friday and then the Dollar General in Bogue Chitto almost an hour later.

Rushing said it appears to be the same group who broke into both stores. Summit police are investigating similar break-ins that could be the same suspects, he said.

“We’re working with them to see if they’re all connected,” Rushing said.

Brookhaven Police Chief Kenneth Collins said a similar crime occurred in the city around the same time.

“The city and the county are dealing with a group breaking into stores at night,” Collins said. “They’ll run in and snatch a few things and then they’re gone. By the time you get to one, they’ve made it to another one.”

Rushing said the suspects are accused of taking cigarettes from the Hwy. 84 store. However, it appears they took seven packs of cigarettes from the rack at the Bogue Chitto store, but never left with them. The packs were found in another location in the store.

Even without stealing the merchandise, the suspects are facing a felony charge for the break-in, he said.

Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to call Brookhaven Police Department at 601-833-2424, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office at 601-833-5251 or CrimeStoppers at 601-823-0150. Tips leading to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward up to $1,000.