PICAYUNE — Picayune Police have linked 32 year old Bobby R. Perniciaro to six burglaries in the Picayune area.

Those six robberies include two pharmacies, a jewelry store and three hits on Dub Herring, all within the last two months. Perniciaro was arrested Thursday with help with a warrant from Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department that was served on his home at 104 Verbena Dr., Nicholson.

Perniciaro was brought before Municipal Court Judge Rochelle Lumpkin for his probable cause hearing Thursday evening where some of the evidence collected against him was read to the judge by Investigator Blaine Heath.

Heath told Lumpkin that Perniciaro, who is reported to be from Louisiana but living in the Picayune area temporarily, was allegedly involved in the Feb. 2, robbery of Dub Herring where he used a key kept in a desk and the safe combination to gain access to the safe. Checks, credit card information and cash kept in folders were taken from the safe. The folders with all the documents, minus the cash, were found in Perniciaro’s car, Heath said.

On Feb. 5 Perniciaro is alleged to have entered the car dealership again, but this time the key was not in the desk. On Feb. 8 Perniciaro is alleged to have returned to the dealership, this time with a crowbar which was used to gain entry into a safe, Heath said.

Also on Feb. 8, Perniciaro is alleged to have made an attempt on Picayune Drug by cutting the phone line. Heath said the department was notified and the responding officers scared him away. On Feb. 13, Perniciaro’s green Jeep was seen parked near Picayune Drug, and a witness reported hearing the alarm to the business sounding. The witness notified an officer who checked it out and found the front door of the business smashed with a rock. Narcotics were taken from the pharmacy. Pill bottles suspected to come from the pharmacy were found in the search of Perniciaro’s home.

Carter’s Jewelry was burglarized on Feb. 8, where Perniciaro is alleged to have used the crowbar to gain entry to the business and take a box of scrap silver and a watch.

Perniciaro also is linked with the Jan. 15, burglary of Medical Center Pharmacy. In this burglary, Perniciaro is suspected to have had an accomplice, who was recorded on the business’ surveillance equipment. About 1,000 pills of narcotic medication was taken from the business. The jacket one of the suspects was wearing that was recorded on the video was found at Perniciaro’s residence.

Lumpkin found probable cause from the testimony given by Heath and set Perniciaro’s total bond for all six charges of burglary at $126,000.

Deputy Chief David Ervin said the department has been working on these cases for about six weeks. A break came when the department found out that Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department had a warrant out for Perniciaro for his suspected part in burglaries in that parish.

“He’s been the chief suspect all along,” Chief Jim Luke said.

Ervin said serving that warrant, with help from the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department, got the police department the additional evidence needed for the investigation.

Illegal firearms also were found in the home. Capt. Bryan Dawsey said a sawed-off shotgun with the serial number filed off and an SKS rifle were found in the home. Jefferson Parish has him listed with prior convictions of unlawful entry, making it illegal for Perniciaro to have weapons in his possession.

An accomplice is wanted for his part in at least the Medical Center Pharmacy burglary, Luke said.

“He’s definitely on the run and he knows he’s wanted by this department,” Luke said. “He can run but he can’t hide.”

The suspect has been identified as David Jordan, 36, of 27 Roy Rd., Lumberton. He’s described as being a white male, 6 feet and 2 inches in height, weighing about 180 pounds, with dirty blonde hair that is usually shaved bald and a goatee. Jordan was last seen in the Lumberton area. The department has been in phone discussions with Jordan to have him turn himself in, but Jordan has not done so yet.

Luke said the suspects may have thought they came to Mayberry.

“A lot of people think they can come to a small town and rip it off,” Luke said.

Instead, the suspects found out that community involvement is high in Picayune, and the informaiton was relayed to a nationally accredited police department, Luke said.

“When they reported it, there was a good police department to report to,” Luke said.