Projectnola.com

May 18, 2012

New Orleans Police Department – Public Information Office

Suspects Sought in Burglary of a Shell Gas Station on

Esplanade Avenue

New Orleans police are requesting the public’s help in finding two men who burglarized a Shell Gas Station in the 3400 block of Esplanade Avenue near the Fairgrounds.  The incident occurred on Monday, May 14, 2012 at approximately 2:30 A.M. 

The men gained entry into the business by cutting the power off and using a brick to smash the glass front door.  An undisclosed amount of cash and store merchandise was taken in the burglary.

In surveillance video obtained by detectives, suspect #1 appears to be wearing a hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.  Suspect #2 appears to be wearing a long-sleeve shirt, dark pants, a baseball cap and a bandanna covering his face. 

A copy of the surveillance videos can be viewed at:

http://youtu.be/Ucy6blWYHAo

http://youtu.be/GBoaEbpdmmc

http://youtu.be/M2ZyshutnMg

http://youtu.be/I6_PF3Tuu-c

http://youtu.be/cHKO4SaCcwg

First District Detective Robert Stoltz is in charge of the investigation and can be reached at (504)658-6010.

Crimestoppers is offering up to a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person(s) responsible.  Citizens with information regarding this crime are asked to call Crimestoppers at 822-1111 or toll free at 1-877-903-STOP (7867).  Callers do not have to leave their name nor testify in court to receive the reward.  Citizens can also submit an anonymous tip online to Crimestoppers at www.crimestoppersgno.org. 

Any person who, after the commission of a felony, shall harbor, conceal, or aid the offender, knowing or having reasonable ground to believe that he has committed the felony, and with the intent that he may avoid or escape from arrest, trial, conviction, or punishment shall be charged with R.S. 14:25; Relative to Accessories After the Fact. 

An accessory after the fact may be tried and punished, notwithstanding the fact that the principal felon may not have been arrested, tried, convicted, or amenable to justice.  

Whoever becomes an accessory after the fact shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars, or imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not more than five years, or both; provided that in no case shall his punishment be greater than one-half of the maximum provided by law for a principal offender.

The New Orleans Police Department, under the leadership of Superintendent Ronal W. Serpas, is engaged in a complete transformation in its approach to ensuring that New Orleans is a safer place to live, work and visit.  The police force, which currently employs approximately 1,735 dedicated men and women, is committed to transparency, accountability, collaboration and integrity.  To learn more about the NOPD and our services, visit http://www.nola.gov/GOVERNMENT/NOPD and visit us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/New-Orleans-LA/New-Orleans-Police-Department-Official/133853236665761

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Officer Hilal Williams