A man on a bicycle is accused of pedaling away with copper downspouts ripped from a Mid-City business, and New Orleans police are now asking the public to help identify him. The theft happened around 7:30 p.m. on Friday, October 2, on the 4400 block of Canal Street, according to the New Orleans Police Department.
WGNO reported on the theft of copper downspouts from a Mid-City business.
A Corridor Already on Edge
A Corridor Already on Edge In August, a Mid-City business on the 4200 block was burglarized by a suspect who broke into a safe, Hoodline previously reported.
A 2025 case involved suspects hauling roughly 1,700 pounds of copper piping from a property on the 1000 block of Norman C. Francis Parkway, an incident Hoodline covered at the time in its report on the Norman C. Francis Parkway copper theft.
Why Copper Keeps Disappearing
Senate Bill 496, which took effect August 1, now requires Louisiana scrap metal recyclers to photograph sellers, capture thumbprints, verify valid IDs, and submit daily photos of purchased metal to a law enforcement database, according to the Louisiana State Legislature.
NOPD has not announced an arrest in connection with the Canal Street theft. Anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111. Tipsters can remain anonymous, without revealing their names or testifying in court. Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans reported that its anonymous tip program has helped clear more than 17,700 felony crimes and paid out over $2.55 million in rewards, Hoodline has previously reported. The WGNO segment Wheel of Justice has reported on this case and says its tip line has helped lead to more than 500 bookings.
