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Deputies Arrest Suspects in 19 Home Burglaries

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Release Date: June 25, 2008

Ryan Loerch	Michael Chapman	John Cozart	Douglas McCollum	Vernon Gray

Shelby County Sheriff’s detectives say three groups of burglars acting independently of each other have been linked to 19 home burglaries in North Shelby County and other areas.  One group involved two 11 year-old boys and a 13 year-old boy.  The boys have been linked to 13 of the burglaries.

Detectives say the young boys smashed windows of homes in the Northaven area and stole X-Box electronic games.  Deputies cracked the case when a security camera showed the boys breaking into the home.  The boys each face several charges of aggravated burglary.

Investigators say two other groups of burglars also targeted vacant homes in the Northaven area.  Shelby County detectives worked jointly with Atoka Police Department investigators and identified a Millington man and his brother-in-law as suspects.  Ryan Loerch, 21, and his brother-in-law, Michael Chapman, 22, allegedly stole appliances and copper wiring from air conditioners.  Both face charges of aggravated burglary and theft of property over $500.

Deputies arrested three other men for burglarizing homes in various North Shelby County neighborhoods. Investigators say Vernon Gray, 23, of West Memphis, Arkansas, John Cozart, 51, of Memphis and Douglas McCollum, 55, also of Memphis, took copper from air conditioners and removed iron security doors from the houses.  The suspects then sold the items to scrap dealers.

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