The video cameras caught two different crimes occurring at the same business within a three-day period.
The Erath Police arrested and charged Crowley’s Brandon Sumners and his girl friend Ashley Viator of Kaplan.
Sumners was charged with criminal damage of a vending machine and simple burglary. His bond was set at $50,000.
Viator was charged with simple burglary and her bond was also set at $50,000.
Three days after the two were arrested, another arrest was made at the same business.
Long-time Erath city worker Harry Lee Frederick was allegedly caught on video breaking into the same vending machines that the other two allegedly broke into nights earlier.
Over the last couple of months, the town has been installing 27 video cameras throughout the streets of Erath. The cameras are pointed toward businesses and streets in Erath. The entire project was paid for through a grant obtained by Erath Police Chief Gerald Hebert.
The cameras went into operation last week and Hebert reeled in his first criminals.
“The cameras were installed to protect businesses and residents in Erath,” said Erath Police Chief Gerald Hebert. “They worked perfectly.”
The laundromat, located at the corner of North Broadway and Simon Street in Erath, is a common place for criminals to walk into and break open the coin machine or the vending machine.
Richard Suire, the owner of the business, had thought about closing the laundromat because of the crimes.
Hebert installed a small camera on a light pole across the street from Suire’s business. Suire also purchased a camera and installed it inside of his business.
Two people from Crowley walked into the business and allegedly damaged the coin vending machines and took around $200 worth of coins.
Suire went to Hebert the next day and the two looked at the video from the night before.
What they saw were Sumners and Viator allegedly breaking open the coin operating vending machines. The camera inside the store was able to show the two allegedly committing the crime, while the camera outside was able to see what type of vehicle they escaped in.
Hebert sent pictures of Sumners and Viator to different police departments throughout south Louisiana to see if anyone knew who they were.
After four days, the Crowley Police Department was able to identity the two because of their long list of criminal activities in Crowley.
They were arrested by the Crowley police, and Hebert transported them back to Vermilion Parish where they were booked into the parish jail.
Hebert said all 27 cameras are operating, just in time for the Fourth of July.
Post a Comment
