Burglary Suspect Sentenced; Crime Was Inspiration For Facebook Crime Fighters

February 5, 2015

An Escambia County man was sentenced Tuesday to over six years in prison for a string of residential burglaries in Escambia County and in Pensacola. And his crimes have been credited for inspiring a Facebook page were thousands of ordinary local citizens fight back against crime.

Craig Warren Jackson, 36, was sentenced to 75.3 months in state prison for a long list of burglary and stolen property related crimes.

In Escambia County, he was charged with burglaries during early 2014 on Southern Oaks Drive, Woodrun Road, Filly Road and Tanager Circle. During those burglaries, jewelry, electronics, weapons and safes were stolen. He was also charged with burglaries in the city of Pensacola in which thousands of dollars worth of electronics, jewelry and other items were stolen.  Many of those items have been recovered.

During the burglary on Filly Road in Cantonment, Jackson ransacked a bedroom and stole jewelry and other items belonging to Craig Morgan’s mom, as well as jewelry and other items from his father. Morgan’s dad, who retired from the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office in 1989, passed away four years ago.

Morgan offered a cash reward for the burglar’s arrested and conviction, and he turned to Facebook to  identify several vehicles unusual to the neighborhood caught on video in front of the home on the day of the burglary.

“Becoming a victim of a crime is not something you are ever truly prepared for, but what you do after can make all the difference,” Morgan said. “Everyone has a sense of anger and disbelievement as to why and how it happens. You can use those emotions to your advantage to pull all resource’s available to have a positive outcome – never giving up.”

His “Cantonment Fl. Break ins” Facebook page quickly gained over 1,500 likes after being published on NorthEscambia.com, and it has since evolved over the last year into the “Escambia fl. Break Ins” page, with over 6,500 likes. The page, Morgan said, has become an avenue for other victims of crime to know that they are not alone.

“Sharing their experience as well as warning others, whatever it takes to spur community involvement is great. It’s a bridge to help law enforcement so to speak,” Morgan said.

Pictured: A ransacked bedroom at a home on Filly Road in Cantonment following a burglary during February 2014. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

8 Responses to “Burglary Suspect Sentenced; Crime Was Inspiration For Facebook Crime Fighters”

  1. Lynn Fulton on February 6th, 2015 8:38 am

    I was robbed an never got my safe or guns back. They even got my wedding rings.i believe it was a family member or there friends an it hurts alot

  2. Lisa Smith on February 5th, 2015 2:35 pm

    I am glad everyone worked together to stop this man. Good job. I believe people who do home invasion should get more time tho. It should be a mandatory of 15 years prison with no parole. They give drug dealers more time so a person who invades your home should get more time.

  3. ECSO Deputy on February 5th, 2015 9:31 am

    I’m glad I got to be involved in one of the cases. Victory for all the good guys.

  4. Molino resident on February 5th, 2015 8:06 am

    Very glad citizen Craig Morgan took matters into his own hands. One thief away from society for a while……many still left to be caught unfortunately.

  5. Lance Kelly on February 5th, 2015 7:43 am

    10-4 on that, John! Good job, Craig.

  6. haley on February 5th, 2015 7:40 am

    Great idea. So glad they caught this guy. More citizens need to get involved in helping LEO catch these theives. Hope your mom got most of her stuff back.

  7. Gman on February 5th, 2015 4:51 am

    72 months to work on your inner personal skills so you can contribute to society when you get out. Just kidding, you will never change you are to old to realize you are just a loser.

  8. John Sanderson on February 5th, 2015 12:28 am

    Great job with your site Craig! Natural born crime fighter just like your dad!! Love to see a thieving little dirt bag taken off the streets!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News