NEW ORLEANS — A series of burglaries at Bywater bars and restaurants have businesses concerned, especially after video at one of the spots that was hit showed the burglar coming through the roof in a scene reminiscent of a Hollywood movie.
“He came through the attic and dropped down through the ceiling,” said Janet Savoie, the manager at Vaughn’s. “Sort of like a dive bar Mission Impossible.”
Vaughn’s was one of at least five businesses that have fallen victim to burglaries in the past two weeks. It isn’t known if the rappelling rooftop burglar is responsible for all of them.
Savoie said she entered her bar the day after the burglary and discovered a hole in the roof and something hanging from the ceiling.
“I said, ‘this guy is a nut,’” said Savoie. “I don’t know he managed to get through there and didn’t fall through the ceiling.”
Vaughn’s was just one of the victims. BJ’s bar owner Ryan Scully said his place was victimized and that key money they had taken in during a recent burst of business was taken, leaving them asking for donations to get by.
He said he had a few thousand dollars taken, but he is so thankful for people who have stepped up to help.
"It's been a horrible experience that's been transformed through the love of everybody into really a hopeful one."
Scully said that, ironically, the stolen money was going towards a new security system. He believes the burglar had been casing the place and knew just where to go.
“In retrospect, there is a lot of things I wish I would have done. I’ve been kind of victim-blaming myself.”