Picayune and Poplarville authorities are looking for suspects in two home invasions, one occurring on North Jackson Street in Poplarville and the other taking place on Cooper Road in Picayune, both in the early morning hours of Sunday.

Authorities believe the invasions might have been pulled off by the same intruders.

Picayune investigator Capt. Chad Dorn said that at about 5:36 a.m. Sunday, two suspects armed with handguns entered an occupied residence on Cooper Road. While in the Cooper Road residence, said Dorn, the two men assaulted a 61-year-old female.

Authorities suspect that the Picayune home invasion might have been staged by the same two men who broke into a Jackson Street residence in Poplarville about an hour and a half earlier.

The Poplarville victim, who fled the house with her son, asked that her name be held from publication. She said she was awakened in the early morning hours of Sunday by a squeaking doorknob as a door was forced open by the two intruders as they entered the house. She said the intruder entered her bedroom and that he had a gun and a flashlight.

Her son called 911 as she and her son fled their residence. Poplarville police arrived on the scene shortly after the call, but the suspects had fled in a car parked across the street from the home.

Poplarville police said in a news release late Tuesday that they answered a 4:15 a.m.  call on Sunday on North Jackson Street concerning two suspects entering a home. The release said that the two suspects fled the home after encountering the homeowners.

Dorn said that the suspects in the Picayune invasion were in the home for about 30 minutes and left the residence with an undetermined amount of money and several other items taken from the victim’s purse.

Dorn added that the suspects are believed to be two black males in their late teens to early 20s, ranging in height from 5 feet, 6 inches to 6 feet.

Poplarville and Picayune police departments are continuing the  investigation. “We are following up on all leads that are available,” said Dorn.

The suspects are believed to be riding in a dark-colored vehicle of an unknown make and model.

“The car has a loud exhaust,” said Dorn.

The police captain added, “The Picayune police ask that if any one who lives on Cooper Road that has security surveillance cameras, to review them for a possible suspect vehicle that may have traveled down Cooper Road between the hours of 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Sunday.”

Dorn said anyone with a video that might be of interest to investigators should call the Picayune Police Dept. Investigation Division at 601-798-7411.

He also said that if anyone has any information on the case, they should call Crime Stoppers at 601-799-CLUE. Callers can remain anonymous, and callers with information that leads to the arrest of the suspects could be eligible for a cash reward, said Dorn.

In other police matters, Poplarville police said that four juveniles have been arrested in connection with a commercial burglary that occurred on Sunday at the Movie Star building, 100 U.S. Highway 11 South.

Poplarville police also are investigating two commercial burglaries that took place  on Sunday, the news release stated.

Police were called to the Poplarville Animal Clinic, 804 U.S. Hwy. 11 No., Poplarville, to investigate a commercial burglary.

The suspects entered into the building sometime after noon on Sunday and were able to steal an undisclosed amount of money.

Poplarville police also were called to The Other Side, 201 E. Magnolia St., to investigate a commercial burglary. The suspects entered the building about 5 p.m. on Sunday and were able to steal a number of pieces of merchandise from the store, the news release said.