Eunice Police continue to battle shootings, vehicle burglaries and thefts, and believe juveniles and drugs are involved.
Police need the public’s help to put an end to the crime spree that included a drive-by shooting in the 200 block of North Cane and the theft of four vehicles in a three-day period, Detective Robert Brickley said.
Citizens should lock their vehicles, never leave spare keys in a vehicle and keep anything remotely valuable either out of the vehicle or locked in the trunk, he said.
“We believe there is a group of juveniles walking around checking for unlocked vehicles. If they find an unlocked vehicle they will quickly go through it and take whatever they can of value. If there are keys in the vehicle they will take your vehicle,” he said.
Police also need the public to be willing to tell them about what they witness, he said.
There have been numerous reports of gunshots on Halsey Street, he said. “However, no one sees anything. They hear shots, but they don’t see anything A lot people in that area are intimidated and scared,” he said.
“Please, do not hesitate to call us,” he said. “We do need the public’s help.”
If someone finds their vehicle has been entered, but nothing is missing, they should call police because evidence may have been left, he said.
On Thursday morning, police received a report of shots being fired on Acadia Street, he said.
“There were no victims, no witnesses other just telephone calls about shots being fired,” he said.
Another report at about 4 a.m. reporting shots fired in the 200 block of North Cane turned out to be true, he said.
A residence and a vehicle in the driveway were hit by at least four bullets, he said. The resident heard six shots, he said.
“He was sleeping and heard gunshots, awoke and bullets were going through the house. He called 911. He was unable to see anything outside,” Brickley said.
“We do think it is in connection to some of the shootings that are going on,” he said.
Between Tuesday night and Friday morning there have been four vehicles reported stolen, he said.
Two vehicles were stolen overnight Tuesday in southwest Eunice; a third was taken over night Wednesday; and a fourth was taken overnight Thursday.
Two vehicles were recovered Thursday at Crestview Apartments.
A white Ford F-150 extended cab pickup with a Riceland Crawfish logo has not been found. It was stolen off Yukon Street.
Also still missing is 2001 green, four-door Honda Accord reported stolen Friday morning, he said.
Police believe the vehicles are used for joyriding and as tools in other crimes such as burglaries.
A Ford F-150 pickup stolen earlier this month from a residence in the 100 block of Tanglewood was among the vehicles stolen and recovered last week. In the previous theft, five teens were accused of taking the pickup to Ville Platte and back and putting about 400 miles on it.
