Police Bust Pharmacy Burglary Ring

Millington, Tenn. - Nearly a dozen police agencies from around the Mid-South have interviewed or plan to interview three burglary suspects caught during a Millington pharmacy break-in.

Police believe the three men are responsible for more than 3 dozen pharmacy burglaries in 5 states.
But the crime spree came to an end thanks to some alert police lieutenants in Millington.

Surveillance video shows thieves throwing a rock through the front glass door of Boatwright Pharmacy on C Street in Millington, during an attempted burglary last Thursday.

Pharmacy manager, Janet Ellis, says the video sent shivers up her spine.

Ellis says, "it's pretty unbelievable when you see someone running through your own place."

Millington police officers were on the scene in a matter of seconds. Chief Ray Douglas says two lieutenants were driving by and heard the pharmacy alarm blaring.
They think the new black and white police cars threw off the look-out who might have been looking for their old red, white and blue cars.

Douglas says, "It appeared to the lieutenants the driver of the getaway car was not sure what was going on when they pulled up and still didn't dawn on him until another police vehicle arrived."

Police arrested these three men 30 year old Derrico Morgan, 34 year old Brett Shaw and Anthony Peoples. Officers say they found Morgan hiding in the pharmacy attic.

A 4th, unnamed suspect is still on the run.

Officers think they men are responsible for nearly 40 burglaries throughout the Mid-South.

Douglas says, "From the boot heel of Missouri to Louisiana, middle Tennessee to middle Arkansas."

Investigators from other states say they wanted to interview the suspects when they learned their MO was the same of some of the burglaries they were investigating.
Douglas says, "Most of the time they'd break the glass door and when they broke the glass door a countdown would commensurate and they'd count to 60 and be out the door."

The thieves also allegedly targeted the same kinds of drugs.
Douglas says, "Usually Oxycontin, Oxycodone, Codeine syrup, Morphine, things that could be sold on the street and quickly."

Ellis says she's thankful their luck ran out.
Ellis says, "I'm just glad our local police could help us get them caught and make us a little safer."

Two of the three suspects in custody are from Memphis the other is from Marion.
Millington police are expecting to have a warrant for the 4th suspect by tomorrow morning.