New targets for robbers... old folks, blacks, Burgundy

Never too old: It used to be, it seemed, that the victims of robberies in the French Quarter were younger, in their 20's or 30's. But lately, it seems like robbers are targeting older, AARP card carriers, in their 50's and 60's.

Hard to see why it's changed--the hours and locations are about the same. Maybe with the perception that robberies are down, the older folks are relaxing their vigilance--that's the last thing any of us should do.

What's the lesson here? Often you can say victims are inviting trouble by being on the streets in the wee hours. But half of these cases were in daylight or early evening hours. Where were the cops? The NOPD is touting a new half-million-dollar mapping system to pinpoint crime, but perhaps officers haven't gotten up to the chapter on "Burgundy Street" yet. Most of the robberies were on or near Burgundy. You would think the NOPD brass--or their fancy new computer software--would see the trend over that month and put more cops on the beat. But instead, this is what happened:

• Thursday (10.27.11): 8th District cops apprehended Ricky Wilson, 21, believed to be one of 3 black robbers who struck twice within 5 minutes apart in the French Quarter. At 7 p.m., a 62-year-old white woman was walking near Burgundy and Dumaine streets when she was approached by the trio of robbers and one grabbed her purse from her grasp.

About 5 minutes earlier, at 6:55 p.m., a 29-year-old white man walking near Decatur and Ursulines streets was approached by the gang, one of whom struck him and demanded money. The victim told them he had none and ran away from them.

Wilson was charged with pursesnatching, attempted simple robbery, battery, and possession of stolen things. He is in OPP on $55,000 bond.

• Tuesday (11.8.11) 3:00 a.m.: A 53-year-old white man walking on Burgundy Street near Barracks Street when he was held up by 3 black punks. He heard footsteps behind him, then felt a push on his back and one of the hoods telling him to "give it up." He handed him his wallet, then the robber fled on foot along with his buddies on Burgundy toward N. Rampart Street.

All the perps were described as 17 to 20 years old, one 5'7" tall, skinny build, wearing dark jeans and a yellow hoodie; the second 6'1" tall, skinny build, wearing dark clothes; the third 5'7" tall, wearing dark clothing.

• Friday (11.11.11) 1:15 a.m.: A 52-year-old white man standing on N. Rampart Street near Pauger Street in the Marigny Triangle was robbed by 2 black guys, one of whom pulled a silver-colored automatic handgun and demanded his money. After the victim complied, the duo took off on foot up Pauger toward St. Claude Avenue.

The gunman was described as 5'10" tall, with a slim build and shoulder-length dreadlocks, wearing dark clothing; the other was described only as wearing dark clothing.

• Friday (11.11.11) 1:10 a.m.: A 66-year-old white gentleman walking on Burgundy Street near Ursulines Street was accosted by 3 black thugs, one of whom pulled a handgun and demanded his money.

The robbers' descriptions were similar to those given in other robberies: one was 5'6" tall with a slim build, wearing dark clothing; the other 2 as 6'1" tall with slim builds, wearing dark clothing.

• Saturday (11.19.11) 6:54 p.m.: A pair of black boys engaged a 52-year-old white woman waiting at the bus stop at Gov. Nicholls and N. Rampart streets in conversation. After a few minutes, one grabbed $2 in cash from her hand and then grabbed her bicycle which was next to her. They took off on N. Rampart toward Elysian Fields Avenue.

She described them only as about 14 years old wearing dark clothing.

• Thursday (11.24.11) 12:45 a.m.: A 52-year-old white gentleman and his 22-year-old daughter walking on Bourbon Street near St. Ann Street when a black dude came up and started going through the man's pant's pockets. When the victim objected, the robber punched him in the eye and fled down Bourbon.

He was described as 30 to 40 years old, 5'7" tall, weighing 140 pounds, clean shaven and short hair, wearing a dark-colored hoodie.

• Thursday (11.24.11) 10:50 a.m.: A 64-year-old white lady was standing in the 1200 block of Burgundy Street (between Barracks and Gov. Nicholls streets) when a black man came up and asked for directions before he snatched her purse and fled on foot toward Esplanade Avenue.

The robber was described as 35 to 40 years old, 5'10" tall, with a thin build and crew cut, wearing dark clothing.

Another new trend: It's been practically axiomatic in the NOPD's 8th District (French Quarter, Downtown, and Marigny Triangle) through recent years that almost always in robberies the victims are white and the perpetrators are black--until the past 2 weeks. All of a sudden blacks started showing up as victims, and except for one case, the robbers were black:

• Monday (11.14.11) 11:05 a.m.: A 27-year-old black woman was sitting in her car in the 1900 block of Dauphine Street (between Pauger and Touro streets) in the Marigny Triangle when 2 black thugs came up, one armed with a black and chrome handgun and ordered her out of her vehicle. They fled in the car on Dauphine toward Elysian Fields Avenue.

The following day, with the help of St. Bernard Sheriff's deputies, 8th District detectives located the vehicle and arrested Desmond Woodberry, 19. He is in the St. Bernard Parish hoosegow, awaiting extradition to Orleans Parish; his accomplice is still at large.

The robbers were described as 25 to 30 years old, 5'10" tall with thin builds; one sported a thin mustache and the other dreadlocks; one had a black hat and the other a red hat.

• Thursday (11.24.11) 10:20 p.m.: A 14-year-old black boy walking on Burgundy Street near St. Ann Street was attacked by 2 white thugs who approached him from behind and struck him with glass bottles (another one of those unenforced laws), knocking him to the ground. The perps then held him on the ground and pulled out a knife, demanding his money, rifling his pockets for cash. A passerby intervened and the crooks fled.

Officers responding to the call arrested Drew Eichenseur (left), 21, and Lee Mansfield (right), 33. Each was charged with attempted armed robbery and aggravated battery; each is being held on $55,000 bond in OPP.

• Saturday (11.26.11) 1:20 a.m.: A 21-year-old black chick walking on St. Ann Street near Jackson Square while texting on her iPhone was relieved of that infernal device by a black punk who ran up and grabbed it from her hand.

He was described as in his late teens to early 20's, with short hair, wearing a red V-neck sweater and dark pants.

• Saturday (11.26.11) 4:57 a.m.: A 20-year-old black woman had her purse snatched from her hand by a black guy as she was boarding the elevator at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 315 Julia St.

Police located a suspect fitting the description the victim gave and she positively identified him as the perpetrator. They arrested Christopher Payne, 24, who was charged with pursesnatching. He was released from OPP on 12.2.11 on $10,500 bond.

• Wednesday (11.30.11) 4:20 p.m.: A 45-year-old black lady getting out of car in the 2000 block of Burgundy Street (between Touro and Frenchmen streets) when she was accosted by a black dude who produced what she believed to be a weapon and demanded money. When she said she didn't have any, he demanded her car keys. He fled in her vehicle with her purse and cellphone (wouldn't you love it if detectives would give you a description of a stolen auto if they really want your help in solving a crime?).

He was described as 5'9" tall, weighing 170 pounds, wearing a white Saints jersey, dark sweatpants, and a dark beanie cap.

More iPhone stupidity: There are some who still haven't gotten the memo about talking/texting on their iPhone while walking down the street. To wit:

• Sunday (11.27.11) : A 27-year-old black woman walking and talking on Bourbon Street near Bienville Street when a black boy snatched her iPhone out of her hand.

Police located a suspect fitting the victim's description of him, and booked Johnny Williams, 17, with simple robbery, resisting an officer, and possession of stolen things. He is being held in OPP on $13,500 bond.

• Wednesday (11.30.11) 9:05 p.m.: A 29-year-old white guy standing at Bourbon and St. Peter streets was talking on his iPhone when a black thug ran up, snatched the phone from his hand, and kept running on St. Peter to Dauphine Street.

The thief was described as 6' tall, weighing 200 pounds, with a dark complexion and short twisted hair.

The rest of the robberies: No new trends, just more thievery:

• Wednesday (10.26.11) 12:40 a.m.: A 36-year-old white man walking in the 500 block of Dumaine Street near Decatur Street was accosted by 2 black punks brandishing a knife demanded his money. They fled on foot with his money, wallet and cellphone.

Both the robbers were described as 18 to 20 years old, 5'8" to 5'10" tall, with thin builds.

• Saturday (10.29.11) 2:00 a.m.: A 29-year-old white man walking in the 500 block of Bienville Street (between Decatur and Chartres streets) when he was accosted by a black thug who knocked him to the ground and took his wallet from his pocket before fleeing on foot.

The victim was too oblivious to give a description of his attacker.

• Monday (11.7.11) 5:30 a.m.: A white couple, he 38, she 30, were walking on Bourbon Street near Dumaine Street behind 2 black chicks when a car pulled up and 2 black dudes got out. The black women began attacking his girlfriend and taking her purse, while the men pulled a gun and struck him with it, going through his pockets, taking what they could. The quartet of crooks got back in the car and fled.

And for all that, the victims couldn't describe their attackers or the vehicle they fled in. Guess the early morning after the night before will do that to you.

• Saturday (11.12.11) 7:00 p.m.: A 25-year-old white woman walking on Decatur Street by Jackson Square was accosted by a gang of 4 black punks who grabbed her purse from her grasp and then fled on foot on the Moonwalk toward Canal Street.

She was unable to give a detailed description of the perps.

• Friday (11.18.11) 2:30 a.m.: Call it the case of "The Persistent Pizza Pursuer". A 25-year-old white woman and her friend came out of pizza joint on Bourbon Street when a black no-good came up and asked for her pizza. She declined, and he harassed her for 2 blocks, then returned a block later, continually demanding her pizza and yelling things at her.

Finally he was told to leave her alone as the couple tried to get back to their hotel in the 100 block of Carondelet Street off Canal. He appeared to comply, but showed up a half block later, grabbing her from behind in a bear hug. The woman got free and pushed him away and he fled. It was then she realized her wallet was no longer in her purse.

After all that, she could only describe the perp as a black man with short hair, wearing a dark coat. Should have given him the pizza--it would have helped identify him. You could have gotten another pizza at Domino's at 135 Carondelet.

• Saturday (11.26.11) 5:20 a.m.: A 21-year-old man strolling the Quarter was approached by a black chick who directed him to the 500 block of Wilkinson Street near Decatur Street (for what, no one's saying). There he was attacked from behind by a black dude who punched him in the eye, doubling him over and allowing the attacker to go through his pants pockets.

The chick was described as in her early 20's, 5'9" tall, with a thin build and shoulder-length hair. Her accomplice was 20 to 30 years old, 6'2" or 6'3", wearing a red or gray shirt and blue jeans.

• Sunday (11.27.11) 1:00 a.m.: A 24-year-old white man and a friend who were standing at Burgundy and Kerlerec streets was accosted by a black guy who demanded his money. Then a second black thug appeared and put the victim in a headlock. The victim managed to free himself, only to find the first thug had pulled out a handgun. He threw his money on the ground and fled.

The first robber was described as 40 years old, 6' tall, with a medium build, wearing a dark hat, blue jean jacket, and blue jeans. The second robber was described as late 20's to early 30's years old, skinny, wearing a white rag on his head covered by a dark hat and wearing a gray Saints T-shirt.

From the mind of a criminal: It's interesting to see how the criminal mind works and how it justifies its actions. Admittedly, it was a rather convoluted case, no doubt because of what the victim and the suspects told the police. But here are the details: Donovan Krieger, now 20, was arrested 5.17.09 and booked with armed robbery with a firearm. On 11.30.09, the DA agreed to reduce the charge to simple robbery. Krieger took the deal and pled guilty to the lesser charge. The judge sentenced him to 3 years of hard labor, which included another charge in Jefferson Parish. He got out of prison on 11.15.11. He emailed this to NOcrimeline on 11.26.11 with his side of the story. It's published here verbatim, without correcting spelling or punctuation:

"ya you need to get your facts stright befor you post something about someone on your web site this is donovan krieger there was no robbery an I nor my passenger new this person my passenger was sellina ounce of weed to the vitcim but later found out that the money being used to purchus the weed was stolen from his cuzen a couple of hours earlyer so when the victim HANDED OVER THE MONEY ON HIS FREE WILL WITH OUT ME NOR MY PASSENGER DEMANDING FOR IT THE VICTIUM ACTULLY SAID THAT HE STOLE THE MONEY FROM SOMEONE IN WHICH HE SAID THE NAME AND THE NAME WAS MY PASSENGERS CUZEN SO THEN SINCE THE VICTUM ALLREADY HANDED OVER THE MONEY ON HIS FREEWILL MY PASSENGER TOLD HIM TO GET OUT THE CAR AND WE LEFT AND WENT AND GAVE THE MONEY BACK TO ITS RIGHT FULL OWNER. thank you for our time and thank you for messing up on my report to wear now when I go find a job I wont get hired thank you very much!!!"

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Crimes in the past month in the 8th District

Sunday (10.30.11)

Simple Robbery, 226 Carondelet, 12:31 a.m.
Auto Theft-Attempt, 1300 Perdido, 12:55 a.m.
Theft, 1104 Canal, 7:09 a.m.
Auto Theft, Gov Nicholls & N Rampart, 7:30 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 2 Poydras, 10:36 a.m.
Simple Robbery, Bienville & Bourbon, 10:55 a.m.
Theft, 945 Magazine, 4:53 p.m.
Theft, 600 Decatur, 5:40 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 600 Gravier, 10:54 p.m.

Monday (10.31.11)

Auto Theft, O'Keefe & Poydras, 3:15 a.m.
Auto Theft, Constance & Lafayette, 8:52 a.m.
Theft, 921 Canal, 10:40 a.m.
Theft, 444 St Charles, 1:07 p.m.
Shoplifting, 619 Decatur, 1:55 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 501 Bourbon, 11:54 p.m.

Tuesday (11.1.11)

Homicide, 500 Bourbon, 12:13 a.m.
Homicide, Canal & University, 1:46 a.m.
Aggravated Battery, Burgundy & Conti, 2:03 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1000 Iberville, 4:05 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 407 Baronne, 6:06 a.m.
Theft, 601 Loyola, 10:55 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 800 Frenchmen, 1:02 p.m.
Shoplifting, 134 Royal, 1:12 p.m.
Auto Burglary, Bienville & N Front, 4:25 p.m.
Aggravated Assault, Elk & Loyola, 7:17 p.m.

Wednesday (11.2.11)

Auto Burglary, 332 St Charles, 7:13 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1001 Burgundy, 9:20 a.m.
Theft, 718 Bourbon, 1:18 p.m.
Theft, 135 St Charles, 4:18 p.m.
Theft, 1001 Toulouse, 4:19 p.m.
Auto Theft, 860 Magazine, 5:38 p.m.
Theft, 132 Royal, 6:37 p.m.
Theft, 320 Decatur, 9:37 p.m.
Auto Theft, Bienville & Clinton, 11:33 p.m.

Thursday (11.3.11)

Bicycle Theft, Carondelet & Common, 3:02 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 8 Canal, 4:12 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 100 Bourbon, 6:21 p.m.

Friday (11.4.11)

Theft, 600 Bourbon, 6:58 p.m.
Theft, 709 St Charles, 7:32 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 500 Bourbon, 9:21 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 1001 Esplanade, 11:44 p.m.
Theft, 441 Bourbon, 11:54 p.m.

Saturday (11.5.11)

Pickpocketing, 701 Bourbon, 12:40 a.m.
Theft, 606 Frenchmen, 12:40 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 400 N Peters, 3:49 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 100 Conti, 10:22 p.m.

Sunday (11.6.11)

Theft, 241 Bourbon, 1:00 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 411 Bourbon, 1:35 a.m.
Pursesnatching, 544 Bourbon, 2:08 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 900 Iberville, 2:49 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 345 St Joseph, 4:42 a.m.
Theft, 201 Baronne, 10:23 a.m.
Theft, 300 Gravier, 10:59 a.m.
Theft, 500 St Peter, 12:27 p.m.
Auto Burglary, Baronne & Union, 6:07 p.m.
Simple Robbery, Carondelet & Common, 7:01 p.m.
Auto Theft, 1600 Gravier, 7:59 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1007 Conti, 10:49 p.m.
Theft, 441 Bourbon, 11:39 p.m.

Monday (11.7.11)

Robbery, 800 Dumaine, 5:20 a.m.
Auto Theft, 930 Kerlerec, 8:14 a.m.
Theft, 527 Decatur, 11:30 a.m.
Shoplifting, 907 Decatur, 11:44 a.m.
Theft, 365 Canal, 12:09 p.m.
Auto Theft, 800 Common, 1:17 p.m.

Tuesday (11.8.11)

Pickpocketing, 200 Bourbon, 12:53 a.m.
Theft, 516 Bourbon, 1:55 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 1200 Burgundy, 3:05 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 439 Dauphine, 3:38 a.m.
Theft, 718 Orleans, 4:25 p.m.
Auto Theft, 700 O'Keefe, 6:29 p.m.
Theft, 632 Bourbon, 9:12 p.m.

Wednesday (11.9.11)

Auto Theft, 900 Canal, 12:40 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Decatur & St Peter, 6:45 a.m.
Bicycle Theft (Attempt), 900 Magazine, 10:51 a.m.
Armed Robbery, Iberville & Royal, 11:21 a.m.
Theft, 500 Canal, 1:01 p.m.
Pursesnatching (attempted), Canal & Magazine, 4:57 p.m.

Thursday (11.10.11)

Bicycle Theft, 900 Camp, 5:20 p.m.

Friday (11.11.11)

Theft, 544 Bourbon, 1:14 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 1800 N Rampart, 1:16 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 1000 Burgundy, 1:28 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Baronne & Julia, 8:48 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 624 Gravier, 9:47 a.m.
Shoplifting, 900 Canal, 10:13 a.m.
Theft, 501 Tchoupitoulas, 2:15 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 400 Canal, 5:09 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 500 Royal, 6:03 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 927 Poeyfarre, 8:03 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 300 Picayune, 8:49 p.m.
Theft, Bourbon & Canal, 9:51 p.m.
Theft, 420 N Rampart, 11:33 p.m.

Saturday (11.12.11)

Auto Theft, Julia & Tchoupitoulas, 3:37 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 400 Bourbon, 6:46 a.m.
Theft, 500 Canal, 6:56 a.m.
Auto Theft, 900 Decatur, 8:17 a.m.
Auto Theft, 212 Chartres, 11:25 a.m.
Shoplifting, 714 Canal, 2:01 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 900 Decatur, 3:54 p.m.
Pursesnatching, Iberville & N Peters, 7:13 p.m.
Auto Theft, Chartres & Ursuline, 8:17 p.m.

Sunday (11.13.11)

Theft, 334 Royal, 12:02 a.m.
Theft, 734 Bourbon, 12:42 a.m.
Theft, 1300 Canal, 2:45 a.m.
Theft, 511 Bourbon, 3:06 a.m.
Aggravated Assault, 400 Toulouse, 3:53 a.m.
Theft, 121 Chartres, 6:58 a.m.
Auto Theft, N Diamond & Fulton, 12:29 p.m.
Theft, 417 Royal, 5:51 p.m.
Theft, 125 Bourbon, 10:37 p.m.

Monday (11.14.11)

Auto Theft, Decatur & Elysian Fields, 8:36 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 1900 Dauphine, 11:11 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 800 Canal, 5:55 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 600 Dumaine, 11:19 p.m.

Tuesday (11.15.11)

Bicycle Theft, 1123 Decatur, 7:38 a.m.
Theft, 827 Toulouse, 9:27 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 214 Royal, 9:49 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Natchez & Tchoupitoulas, 10:00 a.m.
Shoplifting, 134 Royal, 10:50 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 100 Bourbon, 12:09 p.m.

Wednesday (11.16.11)

Theft, 334 Royal, 4:15 a.m.
Aggravated Battery, 226 Bourbon, 5:07 a.m.
Aggravated Assault, Girod & O'Keefe, 9:22 p.m.

Thursday (11.17.11)

Theft, 921 Canal, 7:26 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 936 St Charles, 10:13 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 111 Iberville, 1:11 p.m.
Auto Burglary, Julia & St Charles, 1:35 p.m.
Auto Theft, 611 Common, 1:47 p.m.
Shoplifting, 333 Chartres, 6:29 p.m.
Theft, 700 Canal, 10:14 p.m.
Theft, 334 Royal, 10:56 p.m.

Friday (11.18.11)

Pickpocketing, 201 Bourbon, 2:24 a.m.
Pickpocketing, Bourbon & Iberville, 2:38 a.m.
Theft, 300 Bourbon, 8:17 a.m.
Theft, 8 Canal, 10:44 a.m.
Auto Theft, 1000 Iberville, 11:50 a.m.
Shoplifting, 522 Bourbon, 3:37 p.m.
Auto Theft, 215 Decatur, 4:21 p.m.
Shoplifting, 504 Bourbon, 4:43 p.m.
Theft, 927 Royal, 5:21 p.m.

Saturday (11.19.11)

Shoplifting, 262 Bourbon, 12:57 a.m.
Theft, 516 Bourbon, 1:25 p.m.
Theft, 333 Bourbon, 2:16 p.m.
Aggravated Battery (cutting), Exchange & Iberville, 4:46 p.m.
Simple Robbery, Gov Nicholls & N Rampart, 6:54 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1000 Constance, 8:00 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 100 Carondelet, 8:41 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1000 Constance, 8:51 p.m.
Pickpocketing, Canal & Carondelet, 9:32 p.m.
Auto Burglary, Decatur & Ursulines, 11:44 p.m.

Sunday (11.20.11)

Auto Burglary, 1100 N Peters, 2:24 p.m.
Theft, 701 Baronne, 11:30 p.m.

Monday (11.21.11)

Auto Theft, Dauphine & Touro, 12:21 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 900 Bourbon, 12:55 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 937 Kerlerec, 1:35 p.m.
Auto Theft, 600 Dauphine, 4:32 p.m.

Tuesday (11.22.11)

Theft, 601 Loyola, 6:25 a.m.
Business Burglary, 620 Decatur, 9:09 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 920 Poeyfarre, 9:50 a.m.
Theft, 219 Loyola, 1:31 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1000 Iberville, 2:06 p.m.
Theft, 1400 N Rampart, 2:43 p.m.
Theft, Bienville & Bourbon, 4:12 p.m.
Theft, 519 Decatur, 4:59 p.m.

Wednesday (11.23.11)

Bicycle Theft, 2034 Burgundy, 1:10 p.m.

Thursday (11.24.11)

Theft, 300 Julia, 12:05 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 700 Bourbon, 1:01 a.m.
Theft, 8 Canal, 9:30 a.m.
Pursesnatching, 1202 Burgundy, 11:01 a.m.
Aggravated Battery (shooting), 100 Baronne, 9:02 p.m.
Aggravated Battery, 700 Burgundy, 10:22 p.m.

Friday (11.25.11)

Business Burglary, 241 Royal, 1:49 a.m.
Theft, 1415 Tulane, 11:49 a.m.

Saturday (11.26.11)

Simple Robbery, 600 St Ann, 1:30 a.m.
Theft, 739 Canal, 2:25 a.m.
Pursesnatching, 315 Julia, 4:53 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 500 Wlkinson, 5:20 a.m.
Theft, 135 St Charles, 7:09 a.m.
Theft, 803 Conti, 10:37 a.m.
Auto Theft, 400 Elysian Fields, 12:43 p.m.
Theft, 1500 Poydras, 1:58 p.m.
Theft, Decatur & St Ann, 5:21 p.m.

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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com

Thom Kahler

Judge frees iPhone thieves ...thefts now worse than ever

Judge refuses to lock them up: 8th District detectives thought they were making some progress in tracking down and arresting thieves who were responsible for the burgeoning iPhone thefts in the French Quarter when they arrested 2 culprits last May for 3 thefts.

But their victory was short-lived. After charges against Dwight Murray Jr. (left),18, and Horace Toppins (right), 19, were reduced by District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro from 2 counts each of "simple robbery" to 2 counts each of "theft between $500 and $1500," the 2 defendants pled guilty 9.21.11.

Criminal District Court Judge Darryl Derbigny sentenced each of them to 2 years in prison--then suspended the sentences, apparently not considering cellphone thefts a serious business. Murray and Toppins had been free on $20,000 bond each since their arrest 5.26.11 (where do young thieves get that kind of money?)

Cops saw a vehicle with a license plate that was mentioned in a French Quarter robbery and pulled over the driver. Detectives found a stolen iPhone in the car and linked Murray and Toppins to 3 cellphone robberies on 5.22.11. Det. Tindell Murdock developed Murray and Toppins as suspects after learning they were selling the stolen phones on the street.

Murray was charged with the simple robbery at 1:15 a.m. in the 700 block of Burgundy Street. Toppins was charged with simple robbery for one at 4:30 a.m. in the 500 block of Burgundy. Both were charged with simple robbery for another one at 7:30 p.m. at Burgundy and St. Peter streets.

If Judge Derbigny's leniency was due to a misguided belief that "there's no such thing as a bad boy" maybe this will help him get over it: Toppins was arrested a month after Derbigny set him free and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute on 10.25.11. He's sitting in OPP on that--and for violating the parole he got in the iPhone caper.

More iPhone thefts than ever: The theft of iPhones is a perpetual problem since it's so easy to swap out SIMM cards and appropriate a stolen phone. Here are the iPhone thefts that've gone down in just the last couple of weeks:

• Wednesday (10.26.11) 7:25 a.m.: A 17-year-old black school girl waiting for the bus at Canal Street and Elk Place was attacked by a gang of black chicks who took her iPhone and purse. Detectives are working several leads in the case.

• Friday (10.28.11) 12:45 a.m.: A 33-year-old white guy standing near Bourbon and Orleans streets had his iPhone snatched from his hand by a black boy, 17 to 18 years old, 5'9" tall, with a thin build, wearing a black shirt and black pants.

• Saturday (10.29.11) 11:40 p.m.: A 62-year-old white lady standing near Bourbon and Bienville streets had her iPhone grabbed from her hand by a black boy, 15 years old, with short hair, wearing a gray hoodie.

• Sunday (10.30.11) 11:30 p.m.: A 26-year-old white woman standing near Bourbon and St. Peter streets had her iPhone grabbed from her hand by a black dude, 5'10" tall, with a slim build, wearing a white hoodie.

• Thursday (11.3.11) 7:21 p.m.: A 29-year-old white woman standing in the 100 block of Bourbon Street, just off Canal Street, had her iPhone snatched by a black boy, 17 to 23 years old, 5'11" tall, with a medium build, wearing a red hoodie and khaki shorts.

• Saturday (11.5.11) 3:45 p.m.: A 29-year-old white woman walking in the 400 block of N. Peters Street was accosted by 3 black guys who grabbed her iPhone and fled on foot. Two were described as 5' tall, one wearing a red cap, the other wearing a gray hoodie; no description was given of the 3 perp.

• Sunday (11.6.11) 6:43 p.m.: A 26-year-old white woman walking near Carondelet and Common streets encountered 2 black thugs, one of whom grabbed her iPhone from her hand before both fled on foot. He was described as 5'6" tall, with a slim build, brown skid, wearing a green shirt, dark baggie jeans, with short hair; the other was 5'6" tall, with slim build, brown skin, wearing a black shirt and dark jeans.

• Wednesday (11.9.11) 2:15 a.m.: A 33-year-old white man walking near Iberville and Royal streets was accosted by 2 black punks who shoved an unknown object against his back, implying it was a gun, and made off with his iPhone. He was unable to describe either robber.

• Wednesday (11.9.11) 4:45 p.m.: A 50-year-old white lady walking near Canal and Magazine streets was struck by a black thug who tried to take her iPhone and purse. She screamed and he fled on foot. He is described as 20 to 25 years old, 5'9" to 5'11" tall, with medium-length dreadlocks.

• Friday (11.11.11) 6:05 p.m.: A 54-year-old white man standing near Royal and St. Louis streets had his iPhone grabbed from his hand by a black thief who fled on foot on St. Louis toward Bourbon Street. He was wearing a white sweatshirt and tan pants.

Not a single one of these iPhone bandits have been caught yet. Let's hope Judge Derbigny's indifference to this thievery hasn't discouraged the police and encouraged the crooks.

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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com

Thom Kahler

Halloween...ho-hum

Trick or treat--you decide: What's surprising about last week's Halloween is that everyone acts like it was something out of the ordinary. On the contrary, it was much like Halloween last year when 2 men were killed in the French Quarter and another shot in the head.

In the most notable case that weekend last year was the stabbing death of a Marine sergeant while escorting his wife in the Quarter. A suspect and his girlfriend were finally apprehended in December.

What may have caught the public's attention this year were the number of bystanders hit by stray bullets as gunmen in 2 incidents sprayed the streets with gunfire in going after their intended targets. Bullets flying all around takes the fun out of being there.

• Bourbon and St. Louis streets, 11.1.11, 12:13 a.m.: After a gunman opened fire on a crowd in front of Chris Owens Club, police at first thought it was a shoot-out between 2 men with checkered pasts.

Turns out, Albert Glover, 25, wasn't packing heat this night, though he had a long rap sheet and was under indictment for pushing heroin. He was shot dead and 7 other people who got in the way--4 men and 3 women in their early 20s--received superficial wounds.

Three days later (11.4.11), cops nabbed Marvin Carter, 19, and charged him with murder. Police Chief Ronal Serpas labeled both the shooter and the victim as possible career criminals.

Carter's record shows 6 felony and 6 misdemeanor arrests, including illegally carrying weapons, carjacking, trespass, and bringing contraband into jail.

Glover's record shows 5 felony and 17 misdemeanor arrests, including possession of heroin, marijuana and oxycodone, resisting an officer, and filing false public records.

• Canal Street at University Place, 11.1.11, 1:45 a.m.: Cops wasted no time in taking down Baltiman Malcolm, 24, after he allegedly opened fire with a Glock with an extended magazine, spraying 32 rounds into the crowd.

Dead in the aftermath was Joshua Lewis, 19; wounded were a 19-year-old boy and two 18-year-old girls. Lewis' offense? Bumping into Malcolm, which Malcolm took as license to gun him down with his latest illegal weapon.

When police saw 3 men running from the scene, they managed to collar Malcolm and one of his buddies while the third escaped. The second suspect was released while Malcolm was charged with one count of first-degree murder and 3 counts of attempted murder.

Why?: After the spree of Halloween homicides and scary shootings, Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Super Chief Ronal Serpas were asking "Why?"

Mayor Mitch called it the result of a "culture of violence", what he sees as guns trumping fists. His criminal justice honcho, James Carter, touted other such sociological remedies.

Chief Serpas says the NOPD is doing "all" it can do (where have you heard that before?), and that 100 cops were in "spitting" distance (in the words of the TP) of the Bourbon Street shootout. (I don't know about you, but I can only hock one about 6 feet with a stiff back wind. In the video of the crowd fleeing the shooting scene that was shown over and over again on TV showed no cops. I guess the chief's spitting distance if far greater than mine.)

The problem is, New Orleans can't wait for the next generation to outgrow the "culture of violence" (if that miracle should ever occur) to cure the crime problem. The problem is right NOW and no number of officers on the streets seems to be deterrent--police are continually perplexed by the number of miscreants willing to do their dirty deeds with cops only a few feet away.

So what's the solution?

Obviously, the proliferation of guns makes shootings easier. Oddly, the guns are more often used on a shooter's rival than on a robbery victim. And, more often than not, it seems, the gun is in the hand of a convicted felon who has no right to possess it.

(The NOPD's 1st District, right across N. Rampart Street from the French Quarter's 8th District, has been almost legendary in hauling in felons in possession. The entire NOPD could take lessons from Cmdr. Robert Norton's troops.)

Ironically, in New Orleans this week was William Bratton, former police chief of New York and Los Angeles--the father of the "broken window" tactic of policing that says if you take care of the small problems it will help solve the big ones.

This bucks the current trend in New Orleans to let the little crimes slide and concentrate on the big ones. That seems to mean that dog poop will accumulate on the sidewalks, graffiti on signs, glass bottles on the streets (which often wind up as weapons), all the while allowing cops to go after the really bad guys. Maybe.

But I contend this indifference to the small stuff (and patrolling in cars with the windows rolled up and the officer on his cellphone to his girlfriend) breeds a lack of respect for the NOPD--reinforcing the old adage that "NOPD" stands for "Not Our Problem Dude."

Add to this the repeated effort to eradicate irresponsible cops from the force, and you can see criminals don't fear the NOPD--and feel free to operate with impunity on our streets.

Family rats him out: In great detective work that followed lax police work after a Slidell optometrist was murdered and robbed in the French Quarter, cops identified a Dillard student as the likely culprit. Then the suspect's family ratted him out and led police to 19-year-old Bobby J. Troy Jr.

U.S. Marshals arrested Troy in Missouri shortly after midnight Thursday morning (11.10.11) on a charge of 2nd-degree murder. He is awaiting extradition to New Orleans.

Police say Troy has been arrested in the past for battery and disturbing the peace, as well as criminal damage to property, and that he has also been picked up for curfew violations and as a runaway on 2 occasions.

Police say Troy has been arrested in the past for battery and disturbing the peace, as well as criminal damage to property, and that he has also been picked up for curfew violations and as a runaway on 2 occasions.

Troy is accused of striking 37-year-old Brent Hachfeld on the back of the head and robbing him at Dauphine and Dumaine streets on 10.16.11. Hachfeld was hauled by ambulance to the hospital where he died a short time later.

Homicide detectives were able to obtain video surveillance tape from around the crime scene and to match Troy's DNA from a previous domestic abuse arrest in March with evidence at the crime scene.

Then, acting on a tip, they sifted through hours of surveillance footage obtained from the Greyhound Bus station on Loyola Avenue and recognized Troy at the ticket counter and boarding a bus to Missouri. Arriving too late at the bus station to apprehend Troy, the police distributed pictures of him to local authorities there.

(The NOPD's highly-paid flak, Remi Braden, distributed copies of the surveillance video from Dauphine Street to "all local media" but didn't bother to show it to the public. Those TV stations might show it once or twice, but otherwise the public has no access to it, like on YouTube. More effort on the part of the NOPD's "Public" Affairs Division might have kept this murder suspect from slipping from local homicide detectives' grasp.)

On the ball: Sometimes it takes a while, but 8th District Det. John Ball always seems to get his man. This time the suspect was already in OPP after being arrested on another charge when Ball linked him to the shooting of 2 men last July in the 100 block of Bourbon Street.

Det. Ball booked Kendell Frank, 22, who had eluded police since the 7.8.11 shooting in front of the Krystal burger joint, and charged him on 2 counts of attempted 1st-degree murder on 11.4.11. When Ball found Frank had been booked into OPP, he put together a photo line-up to show a witness and got a positive ID of Frank as the shooter in the July incident.

According to police, Frank has a long criminal history, including illegal use of a firearm, aggravated battery, various other battery charges. He is being held on $700,000 bond.

On 7.13.11, police arrested Frank's accomplice, Michael F. Fulton, 21. He is being held without bond in OPP.

* * *

Crimes in the last 2 weeks in the 8th District

Sunday (10.16.11)

Theft, Canal & N Peters, 6:20 a.m.
Auto Theft, Loyola & Poydras, 11:06 a.m.
Shoplifting, 406 N Peters, 9:51 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 700 Royal, 10:06 p.m.
Aggravated Battery, 100 Bourbon, 11:08 p.m.

Monday (10.17.11)

Auto Theft, 235 S Villere, 4:50 p.m.
Auto Theft, 701 S Rampart, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday (10.18.11)

Theft, 1542 Tulane, 8:47 a.m.
Auto Theft, Decatur & St Louis, 12:10 p.m.
Pickpocketing, Bourbon & St Philip, 4:06 p.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & St Ann, 4:40 p.m.

Wednesday (10.19.11)

Auto Theft, 301 St Joseph, 7:48 a.m.
Theft, 8 Canal, 2:43 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 100 Carondelet, 4:03 p.m.
Auto Theft, 200 S Villere, 5:10 p.m.
Shoplifting , 705 Camp, 5:29 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 365 Canal, 5:33 p.m.
Shoplifting , 400 N Peters, 6:33 p.m.

Thursday (10.20.11)

Auto Theft, 435 Esplanade, 5:19 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Baronne & Perdido, 8:35 a.m.
Simple Robbery, Decatur & St Louis, 12:33 p.m.
Theft, 123 Baronne, 1:40 p.m.

Friday (10.21.11)

Theft, 1300 Perdido, 2:45 a.m.
Shoplifting, 800 Canal, 7:08 a.m.
Theft, 800 Common, 9:36 a.m.
Theft, 935 Gravier, 5:28 p.m.
Pickpocketing, Bourbon & Conti, 10:21 p.m.

Saturday (10.22.11)

Theft, 300 Chartres, 12:01 a.m.
Auto Theft, 500 Barracks, 5:04 a.m.
Theft, 301 Camp, 5:42 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 935 Barracks, 11:22 a.m.
Theft, Decatur & St Peter, 5:45 p.m.
Theft, 801 Bourbon, 11:49 p.m.

Sunday (10.23.11)

Theft, 516 Bourbon, 12:20 a.m.
Burglary, 1300 Canal, 8:27 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 1201 Burgundy, 12:42 p.m.
Theft, 500 Canal, 10:18 p.m.

Monday (10.24.11)

Auto Burglary, Baronne & Union, 6:46 a.m.
Theft, Magazine & Poydras, 7:54 a.m.
Auto Theft, 732 Camp, 9:23 a.m.
Theft, 129 Royal, 12:44 p.m.
Shoplifting, 808 Chartres, 5:35 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 600 Baronne, 5:56 p.m.
Auto Theft, Constance & Lafayette, 7:29 p.m.

Tuesday (10.25.11)

Auto Theft, Poydras & Tchoupitoulas, 2:34 a.m.
Theft, 1431 Royal, 3:22 a.m.
Theft, Poydras & Tchoupitoulas, 4:44 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 1100 Poydras, 1:46 p.m.
Theft, 411 Bourbon, 10:26 p.m.

Wednesday (10.26.11)

Theft, 623 Frenchmen, 12:30 a.m.
Armed Robbery (knife), 500 Dumaine, 12:51 a.m.
Theft, 721 Bourbon, 2:42 a.m.
Shoplifting, 917 Decatur, 12:09 p.m.
Theft, 1500 Poydras, 3:51 p.m.
Theft, 739 Canal, 6:32 p.m.
Theft, 1300 Perdido, 7:04 p.m.
Residence Burglary, 637 St Peter, 8:47 p.m.

Thursday (10.27.11)

Theft, 240 Bourbon, 12:50 a.m.
Simple Robbery, Canal & Elk Pl, 10:32 a.m.
Theft, 1834 Dauphine, 11:14 a.m.
Theft, 300 Bourbon, 11:25 a.m.
Shoplifting, 1000 Canal, 1:06 p.m.
Simple Robbery Attempt, Decatur & Ursuline, 6:57 p.m.
Pursesnatching, 900 Dumaine, 7:03 p.m.

Friday (10.28.11)

Simple Robbery, Bourbon & Orleans, 1:05 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 300 S Rampart, 3:19 a.m.
Theft, 801 Chartres, 7:27 a.m.
Business Burglary, 800 Common, 7:39 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 500 Wilkinson, 4:45 p.m.

Saturday (10.29.11)

Simple Robbery, 500 Iberville, 2:13 a.m.
Theft, 1412 Royal, 11:23 a.m.
Theft, 201 Baronne, 1:59 p.m.
Auto Theft, 1212 Royal, 3:12 p.m.
Aggravated Assault, 800 Conti, 9:33 p.m.
Burglary, 300 Bourbon, 10:13 p.m.

* * *

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com

Thom Kahler