New Orleans police have released surveillance images and are asking the public to help identify five people investigators say were involved in a break-in at a French Quarter business in the 800 block of Canal Street. Three people are already under arrest, but detectives say five more suspects are still on the loose after what they describe as two early-morning entries. According to police, the incidents started late on July 8 and stretched into the predawn hours of July 9. Investigators are urging anyone with footage or information to reach out.
Police released surveillance stills
According to WGNO, the station’s Wheel of Justice segment aired security camera stills that show the five people detectives want to identify. The station reports the break-in started around 10:40 p.m. on July 8, when a man slipped in through a rear door that investigators say “never locked closed,” and that several people came back at about 5:00 a.m. the next morning to haul items out of the business. WGNO notes that eight people in total went into the store and that three suspects were later detained.
Official release and how to tip
Per City of New Orleans, Eighth District detectives are heading up the case and have asked nearby business owners and residents to save any doorbell or surveillance video from the July 8–9 timeframe. The department shared tip lines for investigators and reminded the public that anonymous information can be sent to CrimeStoppers at 504-822-1111 or by contacting the Eighth District at 504-658-6080.
Why the Wheel of Justice matters
According to WGNO, its Wheel of Justice segment has helped generate tips that contributed to more than 485 bookings, a track record local investigators say can speed up identifications in cases caught on camera. Canal Street businesses have faced several predawn burglaries recently, and police officials told the station that coordinated community sharing of video remains one of their strongest tools for closing cases.
What happens next
Three people are in custody in connection with the Canal Street burglary, though the NOPD has not yet publicly detailed formal charges, and detectives are still working to track down the five remaining suspects shown in the released images. Anyone who recognizes the individuals in the stills, or who has video from the 800 block of Canal Street on July 8–9, is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 504-822-1111 or call the NOPD Eighth District at 504-658-6080, per City of New Orleans.
