NEW ORLEANS — Truckloads of steel beams left Uptown Recycling in Central City throughout the day.
They were returned to the Five O Fore golf entertainment complex now under construction at the old Times-Picayune building site on Howard Avenue.
Security camera video showed two suspects entering the construction area in a semi-truck pulling a flatbed trailer along with a white Dodge Ram pickup truck.
The suspects used heavy machinery to put large steel beams worth about $300,000 onto the trailer before leaving the site.
A Crimestoppers tipster led police to the sprawling recycling business on Claiborne Avenue about two miles away.
“This person is doing what we always ask people to do,” Crimestoppers President Darlene Cusanza said. “They were just paying attention. They were alert to their surroundings, and they provided information that was incredibly important.”
New Orleans police investigators also spent the day at Uptown Recycling, going through piles of metal and looking at license plates from scrapped vehicles.
According to the NOPD, detectives are conducting an investigation at the business involving numerous alleged stolen items including steel beams that appear to have been stolen from the Five O Fore construction site.
The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police are assisting in this investigation.
Cusanza says whether it’s property crimes or violent crimes like murders and shootings on the interstate, everyone has a role in holding criminals accountable for their actions.
“This is a wonderful day. It’s a calling card to everyone out there. Play your role. Play your part. It’s going to make a difference and we’re very thankful.”
Uptown Recycling did not answer our request for comment.
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