Neighbor Follows Burglary Suspects

DESOTO COUNTY, MS - Three people are in custody in Desoto County after being caught breaking into a home. They didn't get a clean getaway because a neighbor hopped in his car and chased the suspects down, until police closed in.

"I saw a lot of cop cars rolling down the road pretty quick."

Tim Dillard said he had no idea what caused all the fuss Thursday morning. He was inside a Discount Grocery at Desoto Road and Mississippi 301.

"They had cops come up to that store, they didn't come over here, but we were watching the back door and the front door in case anyone ran through here."

Turns out, Dillard was right to keep a look out. Authorities had roads blocked for about an hour after two men took off on foot from a black Mercury Mountaineer. The SUV was seen outside a home just burglarized on Poplar Ranch Cove about a mile away.

"When I pulled up I saw two guys carrying a TV back in the grass."

Percy Willis said he and his nephew, who'd seen the television, get carried out of his neighbors' home across the street, decided to chase the burglary suspects to Desoto Road East. While trailing them to give police a better idea of where they were headed, Willis said the driver pulled over, and a man got out.

"He came to the truck and asked me if I had two dollars and I'm like you've got to be kidding me, so, he jumped back in the vehicle."

Willis said at that point the SUV turned right on 301 toward Memphis and he called 911, but he said the SUV didn't get far.

"They got down the road, maybe 20 yards, and the vehicle stalled."

The two men, who jumped out of the SUV, were eventually found in the Grandview Lake Estates area near 301 and Stateline Road. Police say the driver, a female, didn't run.

All three were taken into custody but have not yet been charged.