The NOPD has arrested Robert Smith (DOB: 3/17/1991) for possession of stolen property.
On July 11, 2017, Seventh District officers responded to a call of a suspicious person removing parts from a vehicle parked in the 200 block of Harbor Circle. When they arrived, officers detained Smith and began an investigation that revealed Smith arrived at the location in a silver 1999 Buick Century that was reported stolen from the 4200 block of Chef Menteur Highway on June 23, 2017. Smith was observed taking parts off of a red 2016 Hyundai Veloster that was reported stolen from the 900 block of Canal Street on May 21, 2017.
Smith was arrested for two counts of possession of stolen property.
If you have any additional information concerning these incidents please contact the Seventh District at 504-658-6070, or call the NOPD’s non-emergency number at 504-821-2222.
Auto Burglary and Theft
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.
Watch Video: NOPD Seventh District Reminds All Residents to Always Lock Car Doors
Key fobs present a serious weakness in your car's security. An amplifier can detect 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.