Police are looking for a pair of thieves responsible for stealing a gun from an unlocked car in Lakeview, a crime some city leaders call preventable.
Longtime Lakeview resident Robert Turner said he’s seen his fair share of thieves breaking into vehicles.
“They were going from house to house, and I said, something is not right. It’s a shame. They are opportunists. They’re smart, they’re watching the corners, and they’re going to do this,” Turner said.
Over the weekend, video captured a pair of men getting out of a pick-up truck to pull on door handles. According to police, they managed to get inside an unlocked vehicle and steal a gun.
“Anytime the gun is not in the hands of the person who went through all the legal channels to get it, that is a problem,” said Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams.
Thursday, NOPD confirmed to WDSU that 158 firearms have been reported stolen in 2025 compared to 251 at the same time in 2024.
“We got to talk about responsible gun ownership and doing everything we can to lean into that space,” Williams said.
NOPD’s crime data shows a 29% drop in vehicle burglaries, with 1103 reported in 2025 compared to 1547 in 2024.
“Everyone is doing their part,” Williams said.
Williams credits the drop to residents stepping up and providing video, police responding in a timely manner, and his office prosecuting the offenders.
Turner said it’s nice to see this downward trend, but also offered advice to those who are still leaving guns in their vehicles.
“It only takes a second to press a button and walk off to lock your car,” Turner said.
READ MORE:Crime data shows vehicle burglaries and gun thefts are down
