Thread: more looting in New Orleans

http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/

Looting on Tchoupitoulas Avenue

By Michael Perlstein
Staff writer

Looting in New Orleans was so widespread Wednesday that police were forced to prioritize their overwhelmed enforcement effort.

Winn-Dixie's Riverside Market Place on Tchoupitoulas Avenue was breached in the morning by foragers who broke through a metal security door. Eight police officers in marked cruisers made it to the parking lot by noon, but they had a more pressing problem than people walking off with food and liquor.

The officers were rushing to a break-in next door at the Sports Authority, desperate to secure the store's stockpile of guns and ammunition.

"I think we ran them off before they got any of it," said the commanding officer at the scene. The cops secured the store with heavy plywood before moving on to other emergencies.

At about 2 p.m., the officers rushed back to disrupt a second break-in at the sporting goods store. An officer in a squad car tried to chase a Bell South utility truck that fled the scene, but he lost the truck amid fallen trees.

Upon surveying the thefts, the officer said the most conspicuous missing items were all the weapons from the store's knife case.

Before boarding up again, the officers took some essential supplies for themselves: socks, T-shirts and Power Bars. As officers were pounding the last nails the commander yelled: "Let's roll it, someone's driving around in a mail truck."

I grew up in New Orleans- and there was 1 big reason why we would ALWAYS evacuate. It wasn't the Hurricane part... it was the aftermath that always worried me. I was a little hesitant at having to "compete" for limited resources with some pretty unruly (and generally well armed) neighbors- in a city flooded with disease bearing water- rotting corpses, gators, snakes...you get the picture. And people.... the same people who make New Orleans the murder capitol of the U.S. every few years...same people who shoot off so much gunfire at New Year's that a tourist was struck in the head and killed a few years ago by a falling bullet... same people who rob and carkacj... I could go on... but I don't want to offend anyone.

A crisis brings out the true self in people- their real character. I think in a way it also brings out the true character of a city. Those who lived in New Orleans know the city has dark little secrets we like to sweep under the carpet. Well... they're out in front of the nation now.

By the way... I understand people who steel food and water. I don't understand what a big screen TV and case of beer have to do with anything. And if you're steeling guns and ammo... things are really going to be interesting.

Considering the location of New Orleans, I have become alarmingly suprised by the lack of procedures in place in "case the big one hit." My heart goes out to these people and I have helped via donations but IMHO, something needs to change fast or there is going to be serious problems. I just saw on TV a police officer literally 5 feet from a man who was looting, the man paid no mind to the police officer and proceded to walk right by the officer. The officer lifted his shotgun and the man dropped the goods and walked off calmly. The only problem was there was atleat 12 other males doing the same thing and only one officer. I pray for everyones safety and especially the safety of the LEOs who face a monumental task.

The looting of non-essential items just makes me ill. We're bringing truckloads of evacuees to Houston and I hope they appreciate the gesture and leave a good impression. I'm sure they will.

Don't mess with Texas.

Originally Posted by cpwclarke

The looting of non-essential items just makes me ill. We're bringing truckloads of evacuees to Houston and I hope they appreciate the gesture and leave a good impression. I'm sure they will.

Don't mess with Texas.

Agreed. I was just speaking with a friend who likes ebay we agreed that quite a few items might be shipping out of the New Orlenas area. Upon arrival at your door, the box might be water-logged. Be careful of what you buy!

Doesn't someone important in the G come from Texas...

AMEN brother- 1st photos of armored vehicles rolling in.
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/ss/even...VvBHNlYwNzc20-

No doubt about it. There is little left to do but get your food/water/diapers from where ever you can get it. I would hope those who do will make things right with the store at a later date.

But I would guess that no one is feeding their family basketball shoes and sports jerseys that are being stolen from stores as we speak. I, as a tax payer, do not mind footing the bill for repaying stores for looted food, but I do have a problem with the stolen guns and televisions that we will all be paying for.

End of sermon....