Crime update 8.11.07

Break-ins breaking out...

What next?: Normally, residential burglaries are not a problem in the French Quarter or Marigny Triangle, occurring rarely. But, now...4 burglaries have occurred this past week, all within a close area:

• 1022 Toulouse St., 8.6.07: The owner locked up his house at 11 p.m. on 8.4.07, but when he returned on 8.6.07 at 9:30 a.m. he observed the front door was shut but not locked and there were pry marks near the door knob. Missing were 2 brown leather suitcases and 2 antique walnut chairs with green seat covers.
  

• 913 Gov. Nicholls St., 8.7.07: The victim said his house was locked up at midnight, but when he awoke at 10 a.m. he found the bathroom window open and the screen cut. He discovered a laptop computer and computer bag missing.

• 724 Dumaine St., 8.9.07: The owner locked his house at 2 p.m. 8.8.07. When he returned 8.9.07, he noticed the door to his apartment had been kicked in and the interior ransacked. Missing was $1,200 in cash and a men's silver Guess watch. The report states, "The officer observed the scene but could find no evidence of forced entry." The "door kicked in" doesn't count?

• 1015 Dauphine St., 8.9.07: The victim was home and at about 6:55 a.m. heard someone pull hard on the exterior door to her apartment. She looked out the window and saw a white male, 20-25 years old, wearing a light blue shirt and khaki cargo pants, jump over the wall into a neighbor's courtyard.

• 919 St. Philip St., 8.9.07: At 7 a.m., the neighbor adjoining 1015 Dauphine heard a loud noise. He got out of bed and went to the living room where he saw the window next to the front door had been smashed and there was blood on the outside walkway under the window.

You can run but you can't hide: If you think it's any better else where, here's news from a NOcrimeline subscriber summering in the oh-so tony Hamptons:

"Well crime has come to East Hampton. Had our 2000 green Volvo stolen from in front of our house in East Hampton. Came in our house through a window. Did not mess anything up. Took all the hard liquor and a Queen Mary tin of quarters $100. Took key out of dish in living room and left with car. Disgusting, but I guess we are lucky. Television, etc. not touched."

Whew, that's a relief--you'll still be able to watch "Cops" on Saturday night.

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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Thom Kahler