Thieves target sports cars: 8 have been stolen in Slidell recently

Wednesday, September 02, 2009
By Jeff Adelson

The Times Picayune
St. Tammany bureau

Camaros, Firebirds and Trans Ams are being targeted by car thieves in Slidell and throughout the metro area, authorities said.

Eight of these sports cars have been stolen in Slidell in the past year, including one that was recovered and then taken a second time, Slidell police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz said. Other agencies throughout the New Orleans area have also seen sports car thefts in general on the rise, he said.

While agencies are still receiving reports of other stolen vehicles, the sports car thefts represent the only specific trend in the area, said Slidell Detective Jeff Theriot, a member of a task force created to deal with the problem.

Since October, five Camaros, two Firebirds and a Trans Am have been stolen within the city limits of Slidell, Foltz said. So far, police have recovered only three of those cars intact, including a Firebird that was stolen a second time a month after it was recovered, Foltz said.

Most of the cars have been stolen from public parking lots, though three were taken from private driveways in Slidell, he said.

The Metro Area Auto Theft Task Force has used a variety of techniques, including "bait cars" and vehicle location systems, in an attempt to catch the thief or thieves, Foltz said.

Police recommend taking precautions to prevent theft, including common sense measures like ensuring they are locked and parking in well-lighted areas, Foltz said. Police are also recommending burglar alarms and tracking systems, like LoJack or OnStar, to further deter thieves and aid in vehicle recovery, he said.

Anyone with information or questions about these thefts can contact Theriot at 985.646.4347 or by e-mail at jtheriot@slidellpd.com, Foltz said. People with information on the thefts can also call CrimeStoppers at 877.903.7867 or 504.822.1111, he said. People who call CrimeStoppers do not have to leave their name and may be eligible for a cash reward.

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Jeff Adelson can be reached at jadelson@timespicayune.com or 985.645.2852.

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