Armed robberies have overtaken carjackings as this year's fastest-growing violent crime in New Orleans. As of Monday, there were 518 armed robberies in the city so far in 2022.
There have only been about three fewer carjackings than all of last year, but armed robberies have blown past last year's level.
"Carjackings are up one percent this year versus last year, but the number that really alarms me is armed robberies, up 42 percent this year," said New Orleans Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche.
Goyeneche says during the pandemic lockdowns, criminals found themselves short of opportunities, so they adapted.
"When all of the restaurants and bars and everything were shut down and people weren't going out, the people that were committing the armed robberies shifted to carjackings," said Goyeneche. "Now that businesses have reopened and people have resumed their old patterns, going to bars and restaurants and being out and about on foot, we're seeing armed robberies come back with a vengeance."
Meanwhile, murders are on pace to break the highest number in New Orleans since 1996. There were 264 homicides as of Monday. At the current rate, the city could surpass 275 for the year.
