Three unknown men allegedly wrestled a woman to the ground in New Orleans East before taking her fanny pack in a midday robbery that put West Lake Forest police on the hunt Friday. One of the suspects was reportedly carrying a gun, adding a dangerous edge to an attack that unfolded in broad daylight.
According to WDSU, the robbery was reported around 12:15 p.m. Friday in the 6700 block of Tara Lane. Police said three suspects approached the victim, wrestled her down and tried to take her fanny pack, with one suspect armed during the initial encounter. The report also said the same suspects chased the woman as she left a nearby apartment, took the pack and fled, while no arrests or additional details had been announced.
Robbery Investigation Lands Amid NOPD Crime-Drop Claims
The case comes as the New Orleans Police Department highlights a sharp citywide decline in violent crime. In an announcement Wednesday, NOPD said violent-crime incidents fell 70% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2022, while armed robberies dropped 67%, from 269 incidents to 88.
The department also said its 7th District posted a 74% decline in violent crime over that period. Those figures describe broader trends, not the circumstances of Friday's case, which remains active and unresolved.
The latest investigation follows another recent New Orleans East robbery case. On June 29, two suspects allegedly followed three men from a bus stop and demanded their property in an incident Hoodline previously reported; no arrests had been announced in that case at publication.
What An Armed Robbery Charge Could Mean
If suspects are identified and prosecutors file charges, Louisiana law defines armed robbery as taking something of value through force or intimidation while armed with a dangerous weapon, according to the Louisiana Legislature. The offense carries a potential sentence of 10 to 99 years at hard labor, and a firearm can trigger an additional five-year sentence served consecutively under a separate statute.
Anyone with information about the suspects or the robbery can contact NOPD or Crime Stoppers. The department's public information page lists Crime Stoppers at 504-822-1111 and NOPD's non-emergency number at 504-821-2222.
