*** NOT ACTUAL STOLEN VEHICLE ***
NOPD officers are searching for the pictured subject after his alleged involvement in an auto theft that occurred in the 200 block of Notre Dame Street.
The victim told police that he parked his 2002 Toyota Solara, bearing Louisiana license plate #XMU100, in the 200 block of Notre Dame Street at or around 11:20 p.m. on August 14, 2018. Upon returning to the location at or around 2:33 a.m. the next day, the victim discovered his vehicle was missing from the area.
During the course of the investigation, the pictured subject was identified as the person who committed the auto theft. The perpetrator was last seen wearing an orange fluorescent vest with dark colored clothing.
Auto Burglary and Theft Prevention
Vehicle burglaries and thefts are largely avoidable. Here are some tips on how to avoid car break-ins and thefts.
1. Lock the doors
2. Close windows and sunroofs
3. Don’t leave valuables such as laptops, cell phones, wallets, purses or GPS devices in plain view
4. Put away the garage door opener and any items with personal information
5. Move valuables to the trunk before reaching your destination
6. Don’t leave any keys in the vehicle, including a valet key or a spare key for another vehicle that parks near yours in your garage, driveway, etc.
7. Park in a well-lighted place whenever possible
8. Use the emergency brake when parking to make it more difficult for a thief to tow your vehicle away.
Key fobs present a serious weakness in your car's security. An amplifier can detects key fob signals from up to 300 feet away and transmit them to your car so while your keys could be in your house, criminals could still unlock it. To prevent hackers from stealing your key fob signal you can wrap them in foil, place them in a foil-lined box or radio frequency signal blocking bag. You can also put them in your microwave oven – just don’t turn it on.
Anyone with any information regarding the stolen vehicle or the pictured subject should contact Eighth District detectives at 504-658-6080. Citizens with information that can help solve crimes are asked to call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP.