The NOPD is looking to identify an unknown male after he was seen on surveillance video committing an auto theft.
The incident happened on June 5, 2017. At approximately 3:25 a.m., an unknown black male was observed walking southbound in the 3200 block of Grand Route Saint John St. appearing to pull on door handles, holding a small object in his hand. As the subject approached the victim's vehicle, the vehicle's head lights were activated and the subject entered the vehicle. The suspect is then seen taking off northbound then unknown in an unknown direction.
Surveillance video of the incident can be seen below:
https://youtu.be/FtbK7imWHXU
https://youtu.be/MxHuOo5mF-A
If anyone can provide additional information on the incident or the subject involved, please contact NOPD First District at 504-658-6359 or 504-658-6010. Citizens with information that can help solve a crime are asked to call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free 1-877-903-STOP.
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.