Jackson Free Press

Jackson police are looking for a suspect who may be responsible for at least 12 auto burglaries over the last week. At a Jackson Police Department meeting this morning, Precinct 4 Commander Kenneth Goodrum told JPD command staff that his officers are searching for Patrick Johnson of Jackson in conjunction with a spate of auto burglaries in his precinct, which covers the city north of Fortification Street and east of the Illinois-Central Railroad tracks. The thefts raised auto burglaries in the precinct by 52 percent over the previous week, to a total of 60 incidents.

Eyewitnesses report seeing Johnson, a black male, along with a black female accomplice, driving a Green Chevrolet Lumina and breaking into Ford F-150 and GMC trucks. Goodrum said that the burglars appear to be using a screwdriver or some other sharp object to open the trucks' doors and disable any security systems. The burglaries clustered around Ridgewood Road and Ridgewood Court Drive, Goodrum said.

Johnson is also wanted in Ridgeland for several auto burglaries, Goodrum said. JPD Assistant Chief Lee Vance told reporters that the department will release video footage of Johnson soon.

Citywide, auto burglaries for the week ending Nov. 1 decreased 5.6 percent from the previous week, while property crimes overall were up 0.5 percent. For the year to date, property crime is up 1.3 percent over 2008.

Violent crime in the city is down 11 percent over the same time last year. Homicides for the year to date are down from 55 in 2008 to 37 this year.

Read the ComStat Report (PDF)