A Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrested two women in connection with the recent theft of a Jeep Cherokee from a Hillsboro business, but a third suspect got away in the vehicle, authorities reported.
At about 2:40 a.m. on July 31, the deputy spotted a vehicle with its parking lights on outside Next Level Auto Sales, 11267 Hwy. 21, in Hillsboro, according to the Sheriff’s Office and the Hillsboro Police Department, which took over the investigation after the women were arrested.
“My information is that as the deputy drove by, he saw a vehicle’s lights on at the lot, and it prompted him to investigate,” Hillsboro Police Capt. Darrick Curtis said.
When the deputy drove onto the lot, the 2014 Jeep Cherokee fled north on Hwy. 21.
Curtis said the deputy found two women in the parking lot, a 20-year-old from Memphis, Tenn., and a 21-year-old from Southaven, Miss., and arrested them.
The Sheriff’s Office reported that one of the women was found with a stolen Glock pistol.
Curtis said the Jeep Cherokee, which was found later that day in Marion, Ark., was valued at $36,000.
Authorities were still looking for the third suspect, he said.
The two women who were arrested were booked and released pending application for charges. As of Aug. 7, neither one had been charged, Curtis said.
He said the investigation, which is ongoing, is complicated because of the various law enforcement agencies involved.
“We’re having to work this with several other jurisdictions,” Curtis said.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to call Hillsboro Police at 636-797-3334.