[StBernard] Blanket hides stolen goodies, St. Bernard deputies say

[Westley Annis]

Blanket hides stolen goodies, St. Bernard deputies say
by The Times-Picayune 
Wednesday October 01, 2008, 6:19 PM
In the end, the blanket was a dead giveaway.

St. Bernard Parish authorities said a Chalmette family that had been away
for several weeks returned home to discover their home had been burglarized.
But they didn't wonder for long who might have been responsible -- not after
they noticed one of their blankets hanging in a window of the residence on
the other side of their double, authorities said. 

The blanket, with a pattern of dogs on it, was being used to shield other
stolen items from view, the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office said in a
news release. 

"This is like something out of 'World's Stupidest Criminals,''' St. Bernard
Parish Sheriff Jack Stephens said in the release. "But we'll take any help
we can get in solving a crime.'' 

Troy Clouatre, 35, and his aunt, Lisa J. Smith, 47, both of 422 W. Solidelle
St., were booked Wednesday with simple burglary and possession of more than
$5,000 worth of stolen property, the Sheriff's Office said. 

Both remained in St. Bernard Parish Prison late Wednesday awaiting bond to
be set. 

The Sheriff's Office said the investigation is continuing.