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NOPD Helps Texas Authorities Put Theft Ring on Ice

by Gary S. Scheets

March 13, 2018

Categories: On Duty

Topics: Good Police Work, Seventh District

NOPD Helps Texas Authorities Put Theft Ring on Ice

The New Orleans Police helped Texas authorities put a theft ring on ice.

 

On March 12, 2018 Seventh District detectives received information from the Houston Police Department that individuals responsible for numerous retail thefts involving high end coolers were in the New Orleans East area.

 

After the alert, Seventh District detectives began searching the area. Detectives arrived at a hotel in the 8400 block of the I-10 Service Road and observed a vehicle with “Yeti” coolers stacked beside it.

 

As the detectives approached the vehicle they observed Demetrius Johnson holding a “Yeti” cooler and placing it into the vehicle. The vehicle was stacked with over 40 “Yeti” coolers.

 

Detectives continued their investigation and identified two additional subjects as being part of the elaborate theft ring.

 

The three subjects arrested are: 

 

  • Demetrius Johnson (B/M DOB: 8-25-1988)
  • Anthony Jackson (B/M DOB: 11-14-1997)
  • Leon Gamble (B/M DOB: 8-19-1999)

 

Additional “Yeti” coolers as well as stolen “Adidas” clothing were located inside a hotel room the trio had rented.

 

In all the subjects were identified by Texas authorities for committing over 13 felony thefts.

As the investigation continued detectives learned that the trio was also responsible for committing two thefts in the state of Louisiana, one in Baton Rouge and one in Slidell the previous night before being apprehended.

 

Seventh District detectives recovered over $16,000 in stolen property. A total of 52 coolers were stolen from a sporting goods retailer.

 

  • 32 were stolen in Louisiana
  • 20 were stolen in Texas

 

The three subjects were booked into the Orleans Parish Criminal Justice Center charged with possession of stolen property.

 

Additional out of state warrants and charges are pending. Detectives believe the subjects were in the process of victimizing another business in the Metro New Orleans area when they were captured and arrested.

The stolen items have been accounted for and returned to the retail outlets from which they were stolen.