BATON ROUGE- The Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office arrested nine people in connection to 17 recent burglaries.

According to TPSO, there have been a rash of burglaries in the past two weeks in the southern portion of the parish.

The Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office Burglary Unit, the Street Crimes Unit and the Narcotics Unit all assisted in the efforts.

The arrests are as follows:

At the end of March, 55-year-old Joseph Robertson was arrested in connection to a business burglary on Hwy. 22 in Ponchatoula. During the burglary, Robertson was confronted by the owner when he fled.

During his flee, Robertson hit the owner’s vehicle several times with his vehicle and then fled on foot where he committed another burglary. Detectives located evidence of methamphetamine manufacturing in Robertson's vehicle at the original scene. On May 13, he was located at a relative’s home in Ponchatoula where he was taken into custody.

Robertson was charged with two counts of simple burglary, operation creation of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, hit and run and obstructing a public passage.

On May, 16, 59-year-old Jimmy Robichaux, was arrested for a business burglary that happened on Rogers Road in Hammond earlier in the month. Robichaux was captured on video entering the business and stealing several feet of welding leads.

Robichaux was located and placed in custody for a charge of simple burglary.

On May 17, 21-year-old, Hezzie Carter and 25-year-old Bradley Austin Williams, were arrested for three counts of simple burglary of vehicles. Williams was also booked with an outstanding warrant for a charge of principal to simple burglary of a residence.

In addition, Carter was also booked with a warrant for failure to appear for court. During the past two weeks, the pair admitted to burglarizing multiple vehicles in the Baptist area.

Both said they were looking for unlocked cars. The investigation is still ongoing and more charges and arrests are expected.

On May 18, Donald Ray Wilson, Jr., 33, was arrested in connection with burglaries in the Natalbany area of the parish. Wilson was observed on video surveillance entering a building multiple times and removing items ranging from home appliances to writing from the building. Wilson was booked with auto theft and felony theft.

Rodney Frelix, 59, was arrested in connection with a burglary of a home on Range Road. He was detained as a person of interest and during an interview he admitted to having part in the burglary where tools and appliances were stolen. This case is under investigation and more arrests may be forthcoming as well.

On May 12, the TPSO Burglary Unit began investigating a business burglary in Robert, LA where two vehicles were stolen from inside the business, where one of the vehicles had merchandise from the business inside of it.

On the same day, patrol units located the vehicles where the one containing the merchandise was empty. Detectives were able to identify 36-year-old George Dunn and 30-year-old Leroy Clyde Johnson as persons of interest.

On May 20, detectives made contact with Dunn where he confessed to the crimes. Dunn’s girlfriend, 29-year-old Heather Eberwein also admitted to her involvement in the burglary.

Dunn was charged with two counts of auto theft, simple burglary of a business and two outstanding warrants for theft by fraud and possession of stolen property.

Detectives also located the merchandise at the home of 47-year-old Viola Stimage where she was placed into custody for felony in possession of stolen property.

Detectives however are still attempting to locate Johnson who is wanted for two counts of auto theft and simple burglary of a business.

Anyone with knowledge about Johnson’s whereabouts is urged to call the Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office at 985-345-6150.