Joplin Police capture women suspects in string of burglaries; two men remain at large

(From the Joplin Police Department)

On September 27, 2018 the Joplin Police Department took a burglary report in which the victim’s 2017 White Nissan Titan Pickup was stolen.

Since that burglary, the Joplin Police Department has investigated numerous burglaries across town, including a rash of burglaries in the Arbor Hills neighborhood in which the stolen Nissan Titan was witnessed to be involved in. 

One of those burglaries occurred Saturday evening, September 29th, on the east side of town. The homeowner came home and found the truck in their driveway and a male exiting their residence with their belongings. After a physical confrontation, the suspect fled in the vehicle.

Last night, September 29, 2018 an officer on patrol located the stolen Nissan Titan at 20th and Main eastbound. The truck had the third known set of license plates on it since it was stolen, as the suspect(s) had been switching plates. 

Officers got into the area and a stop was attempted at 32nd and Oak Ridge and the vehicle fled. The driver avoided stop sticks and came to the dead end at 44th and Virginia. The driver drove down a steep embankment and onto I-44 Westbound, evading officers. A few minutes later, the truck was found crashed at the 5mm Westbound on I-44. 

Two females were located in the woods and two males escaped on foot. The two females were taken into custody for second degree tampering as the Nissan Titan was confirmed to be the one stolen from the initial burglary.

Tiffany L. Williams, 44, Joplin, and Lisa D. Copher, 44, Joplin, were the two females arrested on scene. Detectives are following up with stolen property recovered in the stolen truck and the burglaries are still under investigation.