NEW ORLEANS — When the news broke that Tangipahoa Sheriff's Office recovered 166 phones and arrested 11 individuals accused of pickpocketing phones on New Orleans parade routes during Carnival season, they were inundated with reports.
More than 1,200 people filed a stolen phone report on TPSO's website.
Less than a week later, victims started reaching out to Eyewitness News saying their phones were pickpocketed and are now being tracked to an apartment complex in downtown Miami, FL.
So, we reached out to Miami Police.
Miami PD said four victims have called about the location, and a detective was sent there to gather information.
"It would be inefficient for us to do a "consensual knock and talk" with thousands of apartments in this building," Miami Police said in a statement, "A search warrant would not be granted for police to search thousands of apartments to search for a few cellphones."
"NOLA PD has not reached out to Miami PD Burglary/General Investigations units, that we know of," Miami PD said.
Meanwhile, the NOPD said the Eighth District, which includes the French Quarter and CBD, has several phone numbers that match those being tracked in Miami and they are working with Miami Police.
NOPD said they're still working to determine if any of the stolen phones recovered in Tangipahoa Parish originated from stolen phone reports in New Orleans.
"Unless there is probable cause to link someone to the actual theft of the phone, then likely the only charges that someone in possession of a stolen phone will receive- are possession of stolen property charges and that is not going to come from NOPD," NOPD said.
For now, 11 suspects remain locked up in Tangipahoa jail on possession of stolen property and conspiracy.
"It's up to the New Orleans police department to pursue the initial charges such as the thefts and/or simple robberies. If they choose to do so, then they will place detainers on these inmates that we're currently holding in our jail," TPSO Chief Jimmy Travis said.
Because the stolen phones have crossed state lines, Eyewitness News reached out to the FBI.
The FBI said they could neither confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation and do not have a comment.
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