Thirteen people arrested after filing false police reports for carjackings in 2021, NOPD says
New Orleans LA July 30 2021 Thirteen people have falsely reported being carjacked this year, and New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said the fake filings are hurting efforts to help real victims.
Ferguson said at a press conference Wednesday that all 13 have been arrested.
“We will not tolerate it, and we will arrest you,” he said.
The reason for false filings is unclear. Ferguson did not address the question at the press conference. Asked whether these were attempts at fraud, NOPD’s public information office replied that the reasons vary from case to case.
Ferguson said the department is having trouble solving legitimate carjackings, which are occurring at the highest rate in 10 years.
To date, the department has cleared only 39 out of 149 carjackings, with a 10% lower clearance rate than for nonfatal shootings, he said.
Carjackings are up 120% this year compared to the year before, according to an analysis conducted by The Times Picayune. Ferguson said false reporting takes the police department’s attention and resources away from victims who truly need them.
