Tires, rims stolen off truck in Maurice

MAURICE — Officers with the Maurice Police Department are investigating the recent theft of all four tires and rims from a truck in one of the village’s neighborhoods.
The truck was parked in a driveway in the Rue Des Cannes neighborhood, located off La. Highway 92. The truck is described as around six months old.
According to the Maurice Police Chief Warren Rost, the theft occurred during the hours of midnight and 3:30 a.m.
“One of the neighbors left for work around 3:30 a.m. and didn’t notice anything in progress,” Rost said. “That is the time frame we are working with.”
Rost said it is a brash theft.
“It was amongst all those close houses,” Rost said. “It was pretty brave. My officer had patrolled through that neighborhood twice that night.
“They were probably watching and went in between. They did it on a weeknight when you know everyone is home.”
Rost said he has not seen such an incident in the village in his more than 30 years in law enforcement.
“We haven’t had a problem with wheels and tires being stolen,” Rost said. “I don’t remember that ever happening.”
Maurice officers have worked a pair of thefts in recent months. A four-wheeler and a trailer holding a lawn mower were stolen in separate incidents in April and May.
“That four-wheeler was not too far from the area where the rims and tires were stolen,” Rost said. “They are about three months apart, but we are working with the possibility that the two incidents are connected. We are getting some information from social media that the tires and four-wheeler might be related.
“That is some new information that we discovered this weekend.”
Rost said deputies with the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Department made an arrest in connection with trailer and lawn mower theft.
“We recovered the trailer,” Rost said, “but we have not been able to recover the lawn mower yet.”
Rost said the department will continue to work both the theft of the rims and tires, as well as the four-wheeler.
In the meantime, officers will continue regular 24-hour patrol of the village.
“We always have an officer on duty,” Rost said.
With that being the case, Rost said help from the public is always helpful in preventing thefts such as the incident with the tires and rims.
“As I tell people all the time,” Rost said, “be aware. If a strange vehicle passes through the neighborhood more than twice, don’t be afraid to call us. If the person is lost, no problem. We will help them. If they are up to no good, we will question them. We need to know who is driving around.
“Don’t be afraid to call if you think somebody doesn’t belong there. Please call and we will gladly check it out.”