STRATEGIC PARTNERS
October 10, 2002
LaPLACE, La. -- The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office booked six men on Oct. 8 in connection with 36 break-ins over an 18-month span that included the theft of safes and ATMs from parish businesses, according to a report in the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
One of the men, Alton Placide, 32, was booked with 55 charges after authorities say he confessed to breaking into dozens of parish convenience stores, banks, off-track gambling parlors and grocery stores.
Detectives also booked five other men, four of whom were already in jail, in connection with the burglaries, according to the Times-Picayune.
"I'm glad we could bring this to a conclusion," said Sheriff Wayne L. Jones. "These guys were going out every night scoping out places, making a plan of operation and going out to break into places. Over the last year we've been paying close attention to these burglaries."
Detectives believe the men stole more than $100,000 worth of money and property and caused thousands of dollars worth of property damage to local businesses. In one case, authorities say Placide and two others broke into Weber's Supermarket in Reserve and stole an 800-pound safe containing $5,000. Three months later, authorities say, Placide and another partner used a stolen van to crash through the same store's glass front door and stole an ATM bolted to the floor.
Authorities allege the men broke into Don's Country Store in Reserve four times and broke into Hibernia Bank branches in LaPlace, Reserve and Edgard.
Detectives say Placide and his partners broke into businesses and stole torches, axes, sledgehammers and other equipment to break into the safes and ATMs. Authorities say Placide led them to safes and broken-up ATMs that had been dumped in canals, empty fields and abandoned homes.
Jones described Placide as a clever criminal who served two years in prison for burglary in 1987. While in prison he learned how to weld, a skill he used in most of his break-ins. Placide also had a police scanner, Jones said, which he used to keep one step ahead of deputies while committing his crimes.
The Sheriff's Office formed a task force to investigate the burglaries after detectives noticed similarities in the break-ins. The burglars always wores gloves and disabled the stores' security systems. The burglars also came prepared to carry the heavy ATMs and safes and were able to escape before sheriff's deputies were alerted.
