By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

HAHNVILLE – Despite extra patrols and a heavy police presence in St. Charles Parish, a handful of criminals still decided they were going to take advantage of the empty streets and houses left vacant by evacuees escaping Hurricane Gustav.

According to St. Charles Sheriff’s Office records, residents and business owners reported over 50 burglaries within the parish from August 30 to September 7. Nearly a dozen of these burglaries were in one apartment complex on East Club Drive in St. Rose. Sheriff Greg Champagne said his office has pinpointed suspects in those cases and arrests should happen in the coming days.

“It’s very sad when neighbors take advantage of neighbors like this,” said Champagne. “These thugs knew their fellow tenants would be gone and they took advantage of that.”

Capt. Pat Yoes, public Information officer for the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office, said investigators working a burglary on Apple Street in Norco have arrested a Norco man in connection with the looting of that residence.

Ruben J. Guillon, 51, 231 St. Charles St., Norco, was taken into custody September 4 after evidence on the scene linked him to the burglary.

“Detectives found shoe prints on the premises that resembled prints from the suspects tennis shoes,” Yoes said. “He was also in possession of several pins that were reported stolen from the home.”

Yoes said Guillon also made off with other assorted jewelry from the home. Guillon was booked into the Nelson Coleman Correctional Facility in one charge of looting. He is being held on $7,530 bond set by Judge Granier.

According to incident reports during the storm, suspects victimized residents and businesses all across the parish. Between August 30 and September 7, 23 incidents were reported in St. Rose, eight in Norco, seven in Destrehan, three in Boutte and three in Des Allemands. Hahnville, Montz, New Sarpy and Killona each reported two, and Paradis, Luling, Ama and Boutte each had one. In a few of the cases, windows were smashed in and doors were jimmied open, but nothing was reported stolen. In other incidents, thieves made off with everything from cash, to clothing, jewelry and generators. Champagne said his deputies will be on the lookout for anyone trying to pawn these stolen goods.

“We will bring these despicable persons to justice as quickly as we can,” said Champagne. “There is no tolerance for this kind of stuff.”

Champagne said there were roughly 200 law enforcement officers working all parts of the parish through the duration of the storm, almost four times the normal amount on any given day. He believes most of the cases were perpetrated by residents living in close proximity to their victims, and he said all of the incidents most likely happened during the height of the storm.

Anyone who has any information regarding burglaries during Hurricane Gustav should contact the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office at 985-783-1355.