The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested 11 people this week involved in the theft of dozens of cell phones from people celebrating Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans. Chief Deputy Jimmy Travis says the suspects are members of a large Colombian theft ring and they are trying to return stolen phones to the owners.
“We are going through the phones, we are extracting the numbers and we are posting the numbers, and if that number shows up on that list, please contact us to make arrangements to claim your phone,” said Travis.
Phone numbers are listed on the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Facebook page.
Deputies recovered the phones from a short term rental complex in Tickfaw. Four people were arrested Sunday and 40 cell phones were recovered. Another seven individuals were arrested Monday and additional 122 cell phones recovered. Travis says they might have your phone, but the case is gone.
“From talking to several of the victims, we think they just discarded the cases, immediately after the theft,” said Travis.
Travis says if you lost your cell phone in New Orleans do not call their office unless you see your number listed on their Facebook page. He says the thieves used Faraday Bags to get the phones out of New Orleans and bring them to the Northshore.
“Faraday Bag is a bag that has a mesh type covering over it, metallic mesh and it completely blocks signals, so once you drop that phone in that bag, you can’t locate it through a Find My phone app,” said Travis
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