(UPDATE) – “We are doing something to make sure ourselves and our customers stay safe,” says chef and co-owner of Noodle & Pie.
Everything from locking doors during business hours, to having additional security on staff, even keeping an extra eye out for anything suspicious.
The Louisiana Restaurant Association is offering up some crime prevention tips too. They’re encouraging businesses to examine their opening and closing procedures, keep cash at a minimum and secure the back door, to name a few.
It’s all to make sure robberies like the one that took place at ‘The Monkey Hill Bar’ Monday night, won’t be repeated.
Fresh Bar employee Haleigh Welch works literally across the street from ‘The Monkey Hill Bar’ she says there are new procedures in place here too, but she’s still a bit leery and she’s not the only one.
“It’s kind of scary because I do lock up almost by myself. I do have one guy in the back but we didn’t get out of here until 8:40 on the weekdays so it gets pretty dark,” says Fresh Bar Employee Haleigh Welch.
“5:21- Up until Monkey Hill, we felt good because we were on a brightly lit corner. Patois and Atchafalaya are a little bit further back, but now definitely everybody is a little nervous,” says Reginelli’s Pizzeria manager Jordan Lafarcne.
Patois restaurant was robbed in late August, the three gunmen ordered customers to the floor and stole wallets, phones and purses.
Atchafalaya meantime, was robbed last week. Two gunmen took off with customers’ wallets, phones and purses as well. They got away with cash from the register, too.
Monday afternoon Mayor Landrieu and Superintendent Harrison were discussing a drop in crime in the city.
They say crime is down by 8% and while the statistics still stand, Mayor Landrieu stopped by ‘The Monkey Hill Bar’ Tuesday and had this to say:
“What we need though is the community to help us because I know people know who these guys are and everybody in the city needs to be safe. There’s no reason to let guys like these ‘rip and run,’ scare the hell out of everybody and make the city unsafe,” says Mayor Landrieu.
But not all city leaders are on the same page.
Councilmember LaToya Cantrell issued a statement in response to the latest crime surge in the city.
It reads, quote: “we are failing as a city to defend and protect our citizens. To turn back this tide of terror, we must demand better,” says Cantrell.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — After two Uptown restaurants were held up in recent weeks, the NOPD is now investigating another armed robbery. The latest one at the “Monkey Hill Bar” on Magazine Street around 10 Tuesday night. Police say three black men in masks, with guns, busted in. One of the suspects jumped over the counter, demanded the bartender open the register. The other two made customers put their wallets on the bar counter and get on the floor. They grabbed what they wanted and ran off.
Police are also investigating a similar crime that happened late Thursday night at Atchafalaya on Louisiana Avenue, a couple blocks off Magazine. In that case, two black, masked men approached the restaurant. The manager saw them, locked the front door, but then they kicked it down and took out hand guns. They stole money from the register and from customers. The next day, a number of patrons came out to the restaurant to show support for the business.
A month before that, gunmen with covered faces, heads and hands stormed into the restaurant Patois on Laurel Street late at night. Video showed one of them cleaning out the register, while the others forced customers to the ground, then stole their valuables. The recent crimes have many residents and business owners in the area on edge.
“It’s a little bit disconcerting to hear that another robbery has happened I mean this isn’t the first one and I don’t imagine it will be the last. It’s not a good feeling to have to feel on edge especially when it gets later on in the night in the evening when it starts getting dark,” said Dillon Langford, the Assistant Manager at Jefferson Feed Pet & Garden Center.
Police have not linked the crimes in any way at this time, but have told the media that they are similar. They are still investigating.
