New Orleans police are searching for a man accused of breaking into a home in the 2700 block of Verbena Street in Gentilly Terrace on Sunday afternoon, making off with a lawn mower and several other items around 5:14 p.m. Investigators have identified the suspect as Kim Edwin Martin, who also goes by the alias "Red," and say an arrest warrant is now on file charging him with burglary and illegal possession of stolen things.
According to the New Orleans Police Department, Martin stands 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs about 175 pounds. As with anyone facing pending charges, police noted in their public appeal that Martin is presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted in court.
How a Pawned Lawn Mower Led Police to a Suspect
The break in the case, per the department's account, came after the stolen lawn mower and other items taken from Verbena Street resurfaced at a local pawn shop, where police say Martin pawned them himself. Louisiana law requires pawnbrokers to record customer identification and item details for every transaction and forward those reports to local law enforcement daily, under the Louisiana Pawnshop Act. That paper trail lets detectives flag stolen merchandise almost as soon as it crosses a pawn counter, using digital cross-referencing tools such as FINDER Pawn and LeadsOnline to match serial numbers against reports filed in other jurisdictions.
If convicted, Martin could face up to 12 years in prison and a fine of as much as $2,000 for simple burglary under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:62, while burglary of an inhabited dwelling carries a mandatory one- to 12-year sentence at hard labor under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:62.2. The illegal possession of stolen things charge carries penalties tied to the value of the goods involved, ranging from up to six months in jail for property worth less than $1,000 to as much as 20 years for items valued at $25,000 or more, per Louisiana Revised Statute 14:69. Under a separate provision, pawnbrokers who unknowingly accept stolen merchandise are legally treated as victims of theft by fraud, and police are authorized to recover the property on the shop's behalf, per Louisiana Revised Statute 37:1805.
A Familiar Name in Third District Case Files
Martin isn't a stranger to investigators in the area. In December 2024, NOPD's Third District detectives publicly sought him in connection with a simple burglary in the 2400 block of Gladiolus Street, according to a department post — just blocks from the Verbena Street home hit this week. It remains unclear whether that earlier case was ever resolved, or whether Martin is now facing multiple active warrants tied to separate incidents in the same district.
Gentilly Terrace's Historic Blocks Under Third District Watch
The stolen mower vanished from Gentilly Terrace, a residential enclave listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1999, according to Crescent City Living. The neighborhood is patrolled by NOPD's Third District, which operates out of a station at 4600 Paris Avenue that reopened in September 2017 following a $2.4 million renovation, per Biz New Orleans, and covers both Gentilly and the Lakefront.
The Verbena Street case lands amid what the department has described as an ongoing, citywide push to curb property crime, citing increased proactive enforcement and ComStat monitoring across police districts through July. New Orleans police have pursued a string of similar Third District cases in recent months, including a Gentilly home invasion manhunt in March.
How to Help NOPD Find Martin
Anyone with information on Martin's whereabouts is asked to call NOPD Third District detectives at 504-658-6030. Tips can also go to Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans anonymously at 504-822-1111, toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP, or online at crimestoppersgno.org, with cash rewards available for information leading to an arrest and indictment. Questions or corrections about the case can be directed to NOPD's Public Affairs Division at [email protected].
