NEW ORLEANS — More than 400 cars have been stolen so far this year across the city of New Orleans.
We told you Stephanie Foote’s story earlier this week. Her Hyundai Elantra was stolen on Sunday at the corner of Treme and Conti Streets. She never thought she’d see her car again.
“NOPD reached out to me today and told me that my car was recovered," said Foote.
Her car was found damaged on the other side of town, behind a dental clinic on Frenchmen Street in Gentilly.
“My heart hit the ground because it felt real. It was real. Everything just became a reality for me,” she said.
Describing the damage to Eyewitness News, Foote said, “There was a spare tire on it, there are a few dings, so I am not sure if it was involved in any accidents. The back window was blown out, glass shattered on the inside, and my steering wheel area was dismantled.”
According to the city of New Orleans, 461 cars have been stolen so far this year. NOPD says 202 of those cars have been recovered.
The surge in car thefts is seeing Instagram pages like this, “Stolen Autos NOLA,” pop up. The creator whose identity we’re protecting says since establishing the account last December, tips to the account have helped recover 28 cars.
The creator said, “New Orleans has a culture where people don’t like to talk to the police for whatever reason, and they trust me with their information, and I get it out there, and I am able to reunite people really easily.”
“I have a database. I have a spreadsheet that has everybody’s names in it. Its got the makes, the models, every single car, license plates, and all the information. All I have to do is search for it,” The creator went on to say.
The social media cries for help are constant, they said, “Every day, the messages do not stop. Its all day. It starts early in the morning 'til after midnight.”
Foote was one of the victims the account helped.
"If my car is fixed, I feel like I am going to be a victim again. That’s what I am worried about,” Foote said.
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