Surveillance images show the suspect in Sunday morning's burglary attempt. (via NOPD)
[Update, 5:57 p.m. Monday: Surveillance photos of the suspect have been released NOPD and attached to this article.]
A Magazine Street resident was attacked Sunday morning by a man who slipped inside her apartment while she stepped out for the morning newspaper, police said.
The victim, a 61-year-old woman who lives in the in the 4400 block of Magazine, walked down her driveway for the newspaper about 7 a.m. Sunday, said Lt. Mike Montalbano, interim commander of the NOPD Second District. When she came back in, a stranger waiting inside pointed his finger at her like a gun, then grabbed her around the neck and ordered her not to scream, Montalbano said. She screamed anyway, and the attacker ran out, police said.
A full-size version of the image provided by NOPD.
Video from a nearby surveillance camera shows the man watching from around the corner when she steps out for the paper and then sneaking inside, Montalbano said. The intruder is described as a medium-built, 6-foot-tall black man in his 40s with a dark skin tone, wearing a white hat, a blue shirt with white lettering (that possibly spells “Rocco”), white nylon basketball shorts with a wide black stripe down the side and patent leather sneakers. He is believed to frequent the Laurence Square park at Napoleon and Magazine streets, Montalbano said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Second District detectives at 658-6020 or, to leave an anonymous tip that could be eligible for a cash reward, call CrimeStoppers at 822-1111.
This is pretty brazen — almost across the street from the 2nd District Police Station. The crowd that loiters across from New York Pizza can get a little dicey at times.
Well, why not? They deal drugs out of that park all the time and NOPD doesn’t do anything about it. Why wouldn’t they start robbing people? It’s not like anybody appears to give a damn.
Incidentally, I’ve noticed that the Buddha Belly hasn’t been in a big hurry to put their chairs and tables back out front. There was a day when it rained, so they all started congregating in front of Buddha. I said something to the bartender, who finally went outside and told them that if they weren’t going to buy anything, that they had to leave.
I live a couple blocks from there, as well. These guys have been a problem waiting to happen for some time.
whenever you have this type of story please have pictures which we can ENLARGE so we can ID the criminal. Thanks
David, I added a full-size version of the clearest of the surveillance images. Unfortunately, I think you’ll agree that it doesn’t really show the man’s face well — it primarily serves as visual confirmation of what he was wearing that day, for anyone who might have seen someone dressed that way nearby. We’ll be sure to post any additional images or information that we receive.
Thanks for your comment.
This same guy robbed my neighbor! I have cameras that caught him and he is wearing the same hat. He does not work alone he had a lookout the day he went into my neighbor’s house.
This was my sister, we’re working on trying to enhance the photo. My sister says she has seen him in the park; out front of the Buddha Belly and standing out front of the local convenience store at the corner of Gen. Pershing and Magazine. Thanks for the posting.
When I saw the post yesterday about a white hat I knew it was the same guy!! My husband called the detective and we gave them the footage of the video we have today. We live a few blocks away from your sister, across from another park where they sit and watch our homes! I am sorry about what happened to your sister I am on a mission to get this jerk off the streets!!
the shirt says Mecca, I think. A brand of clothing.
Agreed with Ron… here’s a graphic
My daughter and I were at the Laurence Square playground Sunday morning and police came over to talk to a man who was sitting on the far benches behind the playground equipment. I didn’t even see him there, since we were on the playset closer to the street! I was creeped out after that, so we got on our bike and rode home, but now it makes sense. I wish the police would have warned us or something.