The New Orleans Police Department is touting the lack of homicides in December as a sign that crime is decreasing in the city, but a former NOPD Superintendent says local residents are more worried about other crime stats that are still on the rise.
Ronal Serpas told WWL's Dave Cohen that when it comes to violent crime, perception is reality for New Orleans residents.
"Having a press conference or having a press release that tells people that they are safer than they feel never works," Serpas said. "The good news is we're seeing fewer violent crimes. The bad news is that people in New Orleans are still interrupted in their daily activities because of the fear of crime or their friends being crime victims."
Serpas says few people are actually impacted by armed robberies, shootings, and homicides. Rather, Serpas says New Orleaneans are more worried about property crimes and other types of lawlessness in plain view, such as car thefts and burglaries.
"What people are impacted on are the quality of life issues where they don't feel like they can go to Walgreens because they see people hanging out at the door or when they find people having motorcycle races on the street," Serpas said. "We gotta work at the neighborhood level and the street level to show people and help them feel safer."
According to new crime stats released by the NOPD on Wednesday, property crimes are up six percent year to date, with auto thefts up 77 percent. Shoplifting cases have increased by 40 percent, while thefts, business burglaries, and aggravated burglaries all saw small jumps. Other property crime categories, such as car and home burglaries, have decreased.
