Pelicans ‘very concerned’ over recent car break-ins near Smoothie King Center during games
A representative with the New Orleans Pelicans says the organization is ‘very concerned’ over recent car break-ins and burglaries during games at the Smoothie King Center.Several cars in lots near the downtown area were hit Wednesday night during the NBA game against the Houston Rockets. This is at least the sixth incident at a parking lot during a sporting event at the SKC or neighboring Caesars Superdome. Last Saturday, numerous car windows were broken out near the Superdome during the Sugar Bowl.The Pelicans organization says they are taking this matter seriously. Representatives called the office of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the New Orleans Police Department Thursday morning to discuss ways to better keep people’s cars and property safe during games.At a briefing on Thursday, NOPD Interim Superintendent Michelle Woodfork said, “They reached out to us, the Pelicans organization and also the Saints organization… We are going to redeploy those in the 1st district and the 8th district around every special event that we have to ensure that that won’t happen again with auto burglaries.”Kenn Page tells WDSU his truck window was smashed during Wednesday’s Pels game. “At this point, as I’m driving my brand-new truck with a piece of cardboard in place of the glass right now, I don’t know if I’ll ever come back at this point.”Page said he was parked in a Premium Parking lot. Premium Parking released the following statement to WDSU: “Premium Parking is concerned by the continuous car break-in’s around the city, despite best efforts to make many of our lots safer for our customers by adding additional lighting and cameras. We fully support the NOPD in their plans to redeploy a higher police presence in these areas. We hope to see these actions make a positive impact as soon as possible.”NOPD released a statement Friday morning ahead of the next home game for the Pelicans announcing “directed patrols” for parking lots. Read the full statement here: “The New Orleans Police Department’s Interim Superintendent of Police Michelle Woodfork has deployed directed patrols to combat recent car burglaries in the areas near the Caesar’s Superdome, Smoothie King Arena and downtown area.”NOPD will use analytics to target the areas near parking lots of concern. The First District, Sixth District and Eighth District will work in concert to patrol the hot spots.”District Investigative Units in those districts will also be deployed as they know what areas have been affected. “Officials from both the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans have reached out and expressed concern about the incidents of vandalism and car break-ins that have occurred while people were attending events in our city. They are seeking our help and we are actively working alongside both teams to protect the public and their property while they’re attending events,” said Woodfork.”
A representative with the New Orleans Pelicans says the organization is ‘very concerned’ over recent car break-ins and burglaries during games at the Smoothie King Center.
Several cars in lots near the downtown area were hit Wednesday night during the NBA game against the Houston Rockets.
This is at least the sixth incident at a parking lot during a sporting event at the SKC or neighboring Caesars Superdome.
Last Saturday, numerous car windows were broken out near the Superdome during the Sugar Bowl.
The Pelicans organization says they are taking this matter seriously. Representatives called the office of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the New Orleans Police Department Thursday morning to discuss ways to better keep people’s cars and property safe during games.
At a briefing on Thursday, NOPD Interim Superintendent Michelle Woodfork said, “They reached out to us, the Pelicans organization and also the Saints organization… We are going to redeploy those in the 1st district and the 8th district around every special event that we have to ensure that that won’t happen again with auto burglaries.”
Kenn Page tells WDSU his truck window was smashed during Wednesday’s Pels game. “At this point, as I’m driving my brand-new truck with a piece of cardboard in place of the glass right now, I don’t know if I’ll ever come back at this point.”
Page said he was parked in a Premium Parking lot. Premium Parking released the following statement to WDSU:
“Premium Parking is concerned by the continuous car break-in’s around the city, despite best efforts to make many of our lots safer for our customers by adding additional lighting and cameras. We fully support the NOPD in their plans to redeploy a higher police presence in these areas. We hope to see these actions make a positive impact as soon as possible.”
NOPD released a statement Friday morning ahead of the next home game for the Pelicans announcing “directed patrols” for parking lots.
Read the full statement here:
“The New Orleans Police Department’s Interim Superintendent of Police Michelle Woodfork has deployed directed patrols to combat recent car burglaries in the areas near the Caesar’s Superdome, Smoothie King Arena and downtown area.
“NOPD will use analytics to target the areas near parking lots of concern. The First District, Sixth District and Eighth District will work in concert to patrol the hot spots.
“District Investigative Units in those districts will also be deployed as they know what areas have been affected.
“Officials from both the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans have reached out and expressed concern about the incidents of vandalism and car break-ins that have occurred while people were attending events in our city. They are seeking our help and we are actively working alongside both teams to protect the public and their property while they’re attending events,” said Woodfork.”
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