St. Martinville – Sheriff Ronny Theriot is lending the St. Martinville Police Department a couple of seasoned detectives to help solve a rash of burglaries and thefts in the city.

Mayor Thomas Nelson told Teche News he met with Theriot on Monday and asked for help.

“He was very cooperative,” Nelson said. “They’ve got some problems around the parish, too, and it’s probably a lot of the same people.”

There had been a mounting number of break-ins around the city, including one where the burglar or burglars took the time to heat themselves a frozen pizza while in the home.

“Mostly they’re taking weedeaters, electric drills, anything they can find that they can get $10 for,” Nelson said.

“They just want some crack, just want a fix,” he said.

This comes two months after Louisiana State Police Troop I wrapped up a special detail helping to patrol St. Martinville and execute a backlog of arrest warrants.

Meanwhile, the City Council seems to be largely behind Nelson’s plan to monitor SMPD patrols in the city’s neighborhoods. There have already been GPS units installed in patrol cars but apparently nobody is monitoring the units at the police department.

“We’ll get someone in City Hall to monitor,” he said. “If it doesn’t work over there, we’re going to try it over here.”