Vehicle thefts are on the rise in Evangeline Parish

Deputies with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff Office have been responding to a rise in vehicle thefts across the parish.
A press release from Sheriff Eddie Soileau stated, “On Wednesday, June 12, Detective Tommy Gallow received information of a stolen vehicle being recovered in the city limits of Ville Platte. The vehicle was towed and awaiting further processing and investigation. A 2008 Dodge Ram pickup was stolen from the 200 block of Benny Street. On Tuesday, June 4, there was also a 2018 Nissan Rogue stolen at the same time from the same residence that has not yet been recovered.”
The press release continued as follows: “Late Sunday morning on June 16, between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m, the Evangeline Parish Sheriff Office received two calls in reference to vehicles being stolen in the Reddell area. A 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee was reported stolen from the 1200 block of LaHaye Road, and a 2014 GMC Sierra was reported from the 1200 block of Huey Road.”
“On Monday, June 17, Ville Platte Police Department, along with Evangeline Parish Sheriff, responded to the local McDonald’s on Tate Cove Road in reference to a vehicle fitting the description of the GMC Sierra. Upon the sheriff office’s arrival, police officers had confirmed the vehicle was the stolen vehicle and had one black male subject detained. Two unidentified black male subjects fled on foot as the police officers arrived. The detained subject was taken back to the sheriff’s office for questioning. The subject was released pending further investigations. The sheriff’s office is in search of Tron Jack Jr. and Jalen Thomas for theft of the motor vehicle. The vehicle was immediately processed and returned to the owner.”
“Early Tuesday morning on June 18, the sheriff’s office was notified the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee was located and abandoned in Houston. No further information is available at this time, and the investigation is ongoing.”
Anyone with any information is urged to contact the Evangeline Parish Sheriff Office Investigations Division by phone at 337-363-2161. All callers with information will remain anonymous.