NEW ORLEANS — After a series of smash-and-grab car burglaries in the Bayou St. John neighborhood, neighbors are calling on police to do more before thousands of visitors arrive for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival this weekend.
"There was a rash of break-ins. There was four in this little area right here, her truck got a window smashed," said Morgan Clevenger, the vice president of the Fairgrounds Triangle Neighborhood Association.
Residents like Clevenger in the 2900 block of Grand Route St. John woke up to shattered glass on the streets Monday morning.
Richard Maurer told Eyewitness News someone broke into his son-in-law's truck. It was apparently a crime of opportunity.
"This is the window that needs to be replaced. The satchel was on the front seat," Maurer said.
Eyewitness News talked to at least two other neighbors who said they also had their car broken over the weekend.
A post on Nextdoor calling for residents to check video cameras for a suspicious white Dodge Charger said the car may be connected to the break-ins, one of which happened three blocks from the entrance to the Fair Grounds.
Clevenger said while smash-and-grab break-ins have become an epidemic all over the city, lately it's gotten out of hand in her neighborhood. She said that's surprising because by law, Fair Ground operators are supposed to help provide added patrols to help watch the neighborhood.
NOPD officials said the area, in their Third District, patrols the streets on a regular basis. In addition, the Fair Ground patrol covers a limited area of Bayou St. John, Faubourg, and the De Saix neighborhoods.
However, because these patrols happen during late or overnight hours, "...residents may be sleeping or not outside to witness [them]," NOPD officials said.
Clevenger said she is doubtful that this happens.
"We've actually had a couple people review footage on their cameras over the course of a 2-3 day period and have never seen a patrol pass one time," Clevenger said.
With Jazz Fest this week, she said she worries her neighborhood will become an easier target -- despite the increased police presence seen during the event.
"At a certain point after Jazz Fest ends at night, they go home," she said.
City Councilman Joe Giarruso said he's been contacted by numerous residents, and arrest warrants have been issued for break-ins that happened not just in Bayou St. John, but Mid-City and Uptown as well.