Not a good week - life in N.O., La.

[Cat_Driver]

nap61...My theory is that any respectable thief will look at a messy truck and figure someone beat them to the truck. I've never had a truck broken into or stolen. I'm thinking the crooks don't want to catch something by getting in my rig.....:laughing:

On that NO evac to Texas, After Welcoming Evacuees, Houston Handles Spike in Crime.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/05/AR2006020500884.html

 

[77transam]

Man Nap61, I hate to hear that. Hope you catch the $#@% or at least recover your truck!

I would suggest to anyone who stores tools,valuables,etc. on their truck, or has a major investment in the vehicle, to check out hidden GPS trackers. Costs vary from $150 to $1000 depending on type/features/manufacturer. Monthly service access (You can go online and track your vehicle on a road map) usually runs around $20.

Former boss had system installed on 3 vans in his service fleet. Van got stolen one day from a Lowe's parking lot, Employee called boss, boss called police with tracking info, van recovered (intact) in 30 minutes, perps went to jail!:thumbsup:

Initial investment and monthly service are small compared to losing a $20,000 van/truck w/$15,000 worth of equip/tools on it.

Plus if you have employees who drive your vehicle(s), you can monitor their driving speed, stops, and location,etc.

I've had conversations with other business/equipment owners who swear by 'em. Citing lower fuel expenses and mileage.(Employees no longer take the "long" way to get to jobs, or go home for lunch,etc.):laughing:

Some might not be able to justify the expense, but all it takes is losing $40-50,000 worth of equipment to realize an extra $20 a month is a small price to pay for peace of mind and protection of your investment/livelihood!

 

[texasjohn]

Norm, you were there. You know what went on. I respect and believe your account.

As sad and unfortunate as it is, seems to be a comment on the behavior of some people who are displaced, have lost all or almost all, their society (community/friends) is split asunder, are physically exhausted, have absolutely no resources (bank account, car, etc) where recovery and what happens next is completely unknown and totally uncertain. In other words, they have been instantly dropped to the lowest rung of Maslow's heirachy of needs.

Interesting that everyone was carrying.... perhaps another reason to have a concealed carry capability. I already carry, hope I never have the need that was exhibited post Katrina.

 

[gauthier]

My point was though[according to the guys that were from new orleans area],was that many of those were drug addicts/criminals before the hurricane ever came,,lets put it this way,,if you had thousands of hillbillys displaced by a hurricane[not likely],the biggest majority of them would not be drug addicts/criminals....they might be alot of overalls and snuff spittin going on,but...:laughing:

 

[nap61]

transam,
My next truck will surely have a tracking devise. But that is like "closing the barn door..........." I am looking into Lojack. Interestingly, the insurance adjuster said that OnStar in very easy to disable.

Norm

 

[nap61]

TexasJohn,
I didn't see that many civilians out on the streets. But the ones I saw in the areas that were not flooded (usually sitting on their porch) had a rifle or shotgun within reach. Some were walking around with side arms. I did not conceal carry; I had a .45 strapped on in full view and a shotgun handy in the truck.

 

[texasjohn]

Norm, understand. I'm not an LEO thus have CC license....can't open carry/brandish a pistol in public (private property/country/OK) in Texas. Have various shotguns also.

Gauthier, agreed, criminals may change their location but not likely their behavior. A criminal is a criminal no matter where they go. Surely, criminals relocated from Katrina remained criminals in their new location. However, the idea that "80 percent was drug addicts and thieves and worse" is just wrong thinking, more than highly biased, and incendiary when repeated.

 

[tallyho8]

An excerpt from the Washington Post article:
"officials are careful not to blame Houston's recent rise in violent crime solely on Katrina evacuees, saying such statistics were rising last year before the hurricane. They point to what they call the majority of law-abiding Louisianans now living in the city and say the crime rate per thousand for the evacuee population is not greater than it was among Houstonians before the influx of Katrina survivors.

But the issue facing the city, officials said, is that Houston's 2 million population grew by about 10 percent virtually overnight, straining all key city services such as schools, hospitals, emergency services and, particularly, public safety."

Yes, crime increased in Houston after 200,000 more people arrived as you will find crime in any population anywhere of 200,000 people.

The good news for Houstonians is that soon after the lawbreakers found out how much harsher Texas justice was than New Orleans justice, they moved back to New Orleans as quickly as possible.

And the good news for New Orleanians is that many of the lawbreakers remained behind in Texas jails.

And the feds traced hundreds of new cars that were stolen from dealerships in New Orleans following Katrina by evacuees fleeing to Texas where the cars suddenly disappeared.

 

[texasjohn]

I'll admit I had not focused on Houston getting a 10% population increase from Katrina... that's an amazingly sharp impulse that will unbalance just about any system not designed to handle such large impacts.